Canadian investors can access gold through two paths: physical bullion ETFs (which hold the metal in vaults) or gold-miner ETFs (which hold shares in mining companies). They behave differently — bullion tracks the gold price closely, while miners are leveraged to it but add company-specific operational risk.
| Ticker | Name | MER | AUM | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XGD | iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF | 0.61% | $1.1B | Annual |
Largest by AUM: XGD ($1.1B). Lowest MER: XGD at 0.61%. AUM and MER are approximate snapshots — confirm on the issuer's fund page before investing.
XGD (iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold) is the largest Canadian-listed gold-miner ETF at $1.1B AUM and 0.61% MER. It holds about 50 global gold producers including Barrick, Newmont, Agnico Eagle and Wheaton. For physical bullion exposure, KILO (Sprott) or MNT (Royal Canadian Mint) are the standard choices — these hold actual gold, not shares. Miners typically swing 2-3x the gold price; bullion swings 1x.
Need filters by issuer, MER, AUM, or distribution frequency? Compare across other sector & specialty ETFs. For one-ticker portfolios, see which account to fund first, and the compound interest calculator to model long-term contributions.
Snapshot date: 2026-04-15. 1 Canadian-listed ETFs covering gold & precious metals, with MERs from 0.61% to 0.61%. Educational only — not advice. Verify all rates and holdings with the issuer before investing.
Last reviewed: April 2026