5 Gold ETFs With Glittering Prospects in 2026

Core Viewpoint - The outlook for gold in 2026 is bullish, with forecasts from JPMorgan and Bank of America predicting prices could reach $5,000 per ounce by Q4, driven by a surge of over 75% in the past year due to increased ETF and central bank demand, alongside geopolitical and economic uncertainties [1]. Group 1: Market Trends - Gold and mining ETFs are expected to benefit significantly from the anticipated record-breaking performance of gold in 2026 [2]. - Gold mining ETFs are projected to outperform physical gold in 2026, indicating a strong market for these investment vehicles [2]. - Global gold ETFs experienced six consecutive months of inflows last year, primarily from Asia, with JPMorgan predicting around 250 metric tons of inflows into ETFs in 2026 [2]. Group 2: Investment Shifts - Investors are expected to shift from legacy gold ETFs to lower-cost "mini" and "micro" funds following the record high gold prices in late 2025, which surpassed $4,500 per ounce [2]. - The APAC region is anticipated to see sustained inflows as gold ownership increases in markets like India and China, with investors viewing gold as a risk hedge [2]. Group 3: Notable ETFs - SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) has an expense ratio of 0.1% and $25.3 billion in assets, appealing to cost-conscious investors [2]. - abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) has a higher expense ratio of 0.17% but focuses on responsible environmental, social, and governance practices, with $6.24 billion in assets [2]. - VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) has an expense ratio of 0.51% and $27.8 billion in assets, showing high performance and growth in 2025 [2]. - VanEck Junior Gold Miners (GDXJ) targets small and early-stage miners with an expense ratio of 0.51% and $10 billion in assets [2]. - iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is the second-largest physical gold ETF with $71 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.25% [2].