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Data as of Oct 28, 2026.

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BGLD vs GLD: Differences, Returns & Fees

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Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, BGLD returned −2.6% to GLD's +2.5%, and GLD charges 0.40% to BGLD's 0.91%.

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Net assets on Oct 27, 2026: $54m for FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF and $135.8bn for SPDR Gold Shares.

BGLD on its own →GLD on its own →
At a glance
−2.6%
BGLD total return, 1 year
+2.5%
GLD total return, 1 year
0.91%
BGLD expense ratio
0.40%
GLD expense ratio

Pair scorecard

GLD costs 0.51 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 5.1 points; GLD is far larger, $135.8bn against $54m.

BGLD vs GLD: Differences, Returns & Fees
MeasureBGLDGLD
Return
Total return, 1 year−2.6%+2.5%
Drawdown
Below its high24.7%, high on Jan 29, 2026
Index fall to the buffer0.0%
Fund price fall to the buffer0.4%
Benchmark
What it tracksGLDGold
The outcome period
Room to the cap15.0%
Buffer left, in index points6.5% of 10.0%
Days left in the period33
Period endsNov 30, 2026
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.91%0.40%
Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026$54m$135.8bn
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Side by side

BGLD FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF GLD SPDR Gold Shares
Where it sits Buffer ETF Commodity ETF
Issuer First Trust State Street
What it is Defined outcome, 5% to 15% on GLD Holds gold
Total return, 1 year −2.6% +2.5%
Its benchmark over the same days +2.5% (GLD) +2.7% (IAU)
Gap to its benchmark −5.1 pts vs GLD −0.2 pts vs IAU
Expense ratio 0.91% 0.40%
Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026 $54m $135.8bn

BGLD and GLD on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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About each fund
BGLD

From its price on Oct 28, 2026, the fund can gain about 15.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, GLD can fall 0.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 6.5% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's GLD level. 33 days remained on Oct 28, 2026. On Nov 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

GLD

Its expense ratio is 0.40% a year, for the three months to Jun 30, 2026, as its 10-Q states.

GLD holds gold. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +2.5% with distributions reinvested, against +2.7% for its benchmark, the price of gold. It sat 24.7% below its high of Jan 29, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.

Questions people ask

Are BGLD and GLD in the same category?
BGLD is a buffer ETF and GLD is a commodity ETF, so they do different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and holdings.
Which returned more over the last year, BGLD or GLD?
In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, BGLD returned −2.6% and GLD +2.5%.
Which is cheaper, BGLD or GLD?
GLD is cheaper, by 0.51 percentage points a year. That is about $51 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's own filings.
Other comparisons
BGLD vs IAUBGLD vs GLDMGLD vs GLDWGLD vs LYTEGLD vs XRTGLD vs IGLDGLD vs IAUIGLD vs UGL
Where to next
BGLD on its own →GLD on its own →Hold both: look the portfolio through →Rankings →BGLD dividend history →Standards and sources →
Sources and dates
BGLD filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
First Trust page for BGLD ↗
State Street website ↗

Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.

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ETFIQ, BGLD against GLD, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/bgld-vs-gld

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