PMGOLDvsGOLD
Both hold physical gold bullion. The fee difference compounds over decades.
Perth Mint Gold · ETFS Physical Gold
PMGOLD costs 0.15% vs GOLD's 0.40% - a 25bp gap on the same underlying exposure. On $10,000 invested that's ~$25/year in extra fees. With identical index tracking, fees are the only meaningful differentiator.
Score Breakdown
Fund Profiles
Issued by the Perth Mint, PMGOLD offers ASX investors direct exposure to physical gold, with each unit representing ownership of allocated gold stored securely in Perth Mint vaults. Uniquely among global gold ETFs, PMGOLD carries an Australian government guarantee through the Perth Mint's status as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Western Australian government. Conservative investors, SMSF trustees seeking portfolio insurance, and those wanting a genuine safe-haven asset with sovereign backing will find PMGOLD a distinctive and trusted way to hold physical gold.
One of the oldest ETFs on the ASX, iShares Physical Gold ETF has been providing Australian investors with exposure to gold since 2003, managed by BlackRock. Each unit is backed by allocated physical gold held in secure vaults, with pricing referenced to the London Bullion Market Association benchmark. GOLD suits investors seeking a portfolio hedge against inflation, currency debasement, or geopolitical uncertainty, and remains a popular defensive allocation within diversified portfolios and SMSFs.