IAU vs IWF
iShares Gold Trust vs iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to gold securities. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.25%. Launched in 2005, the fund has a 21-year track record.
iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.18%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.39%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.
Quick Verdict
IWF has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.18% vs 0.25%), saving about $137 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, IAU has significantly outperformed with a 52.4% return vs 18.2%.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
IWF Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 12.82% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 11.79% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 8.78% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 4.81% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 4.61% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 3.57% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 3.28% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 2.83% |
| Eli Lilly and CompanyLLY | 2.62% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose IWF if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IAU if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose IWF if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.