10-KPeriod: FY2018

SPDR GOLD TRUST Annual Report, Year Ended Sep 30, 2018

Filed November 27, 2018For Securities:GLD

Summary

SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) filed its annual report on Form 10-K for the period ending September 29, 2018. The Trust's primary objective is to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less its expenses. As of September 30, 2018, the Trust held approximately 23.86 million ounces of gold, valued at $28.33 billion. The Trust's net assets stood at $28.32 billion. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Trust reported a net loss of $2.62 billion, primarily driven by a significant decrease in the unrealized appreciation of its gold holdings. This financial performance is directly tied to the fluctuations in the price of gold, which experienced volatility during the reporting period. The Trust's expenses, primarily the sponsor fee, are paid through the sale of gold, leading to a gradual decrease in the amount of gold represented by each outstanding share over time. Investors should note that the Trust is a passive investment vehicle and does not engage in active management or hedging strategies.

Financial Highlights

10 data points
Beta

Net Income

-$2.62B

EPS (Diluted)

$-9.35

Total Assets

$28.33B

Cash & Equivalents

$0.00

Free Cash Flow

$0.00

Financial Statements
Beta
Operating Expenses$136.30M
Net Income-$2.62B
EPS (Basic)$-9.35
Shares Outstanding (Basic)280.15M

Key Highlights

  • 1The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) aims to track the price of gold bullion, less expenses.
  • 2As of September 30, 2018, the Trust held approximately 23.86 million ounces of gold, valued at $28.33 billion.
  • 3The Trust reported a net loss of $2.62 billion for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, largely due to changes in the market value of its gold holdings.
  • 4The Trust's primary recurring expense is the Sponsor's fee, which accrues daily at an annual rate of 0.40% of the daily Net Asset Value (NAV).
  • 5The amount of gold represented by each Share gradually decreases over time due to the sale of gold to cover Trust expenses.
  • 6Shares are created and redeemed by Authorized Participants in Baskets, with a transaction fee of $2,000 per order.
  • 7The value of the Shares is determined using the LBMA Gold Price PM as the primary valuation benchmark.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary investment objective of the SPDR Gold Trust is for its Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trust's expenses. It offers investors a way to gain exposure to the gold market without the complexities of directly holding physical gold.

The Trust's expenses, primarily the Sponsor's fee, are paid by selling the Trust's gold holdings as needed. This process means that over time, the amount of gold backing each Share gradually decreases, irrespective of the gold price's performance.

Authorized Participants are typically large financial institutions that interact directly with the Trust to create or redeem Baskets of Shares. They facilitate the flow of Shares into and out of the market by delivering physical gold to the Trust in exchange for new Shares, or by redeeming Shares in exchange for gold. They are charged a transaction fee for these services.

The Net Asset Value (NAV) of the Trust is determined daily by valuing the gold held by the Trust based on the LBMA Gold Price PM. All estimated accrued fees, expenses, and other liabilities are then subtracted from the total value of the Trust's assets.