SPDR ® Gold Shares (GLD ®) Celebrates 20 Years as State Street Global Advisors Survey Indicates Investors Have Increased Allocations to Gold Amid Economic Uncertainty

Survey Shows 84% of Gold ETF Investors Report Improved Portfolio Performance Due to Their Gold Holdings

• Gold ownership expands: 38% of U.S. investors surveyed now hold gold in their portfolios, up from 20% last year.
• Investors in gold view gold as a safe haven during market volatility (57%) and a hedge against inflation (51%).
• When suggesting investing in gold to clients, 70% of financial advisors surveyed recommend gold ETFs.

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–State Street Global Advisors, the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: NYSE:), and the World Gold Council, the market development organization for the gold industry, celebrate the 20th anniversary of SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:). Since its launch on November 18, 2004, GLD has redefined how investors access gold, providing a relatively liquid, transparent, and cost-efficient means of exposure to physical gold. Today, GLD remains the largest gold ETF in the world with over $78.3 billion in assets under management.1

Investor Sentiment Toward Gold Remains Strong

To mark the 20th anniversary of GLD, State Street Global Advisors today released the results of its 2024 Gold ETF Impact Study, which reveals 38% of surveyed U.S. investors currently hold gold in their portfolio, marking a significant increase from 20% in 2023. Among those with allocations to gold, 56% said they are likely to increase their gold exposure within the next 6 to 12 months.

Notably, the study found that 40% of gold investors have started investing within the last five years, reflecting a growing base of new adopters. It also found that gold is viewed as a reliable hedge against inflation and market volatility, with 57% of gold investors perceiving the precious metal as a safe haven during market volatility and 51% seeing it as a hedge against inflation. Furthermore, 73% of gold investors surveyed said that they anticipate continued stock market volatility over the next 12 months, emphasizing gold’s role as a stabilizing force in their portfolios.

As we celebrate 20 years of GLD, it’s clear that gold continues to play a vital role in all types of investor portfolios, said George Milling-Stanley, Chief Gold Strategist at State Street Global Advisors. “GLD has been instrumental in democratizing gold investing for a wide range of investors.”

Millennials Lead the Way

According to the survey, Millennial investors are playing a significant role in the growing demand for gold, with 61% of Millennial investors reporting that…