Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued to shine as attractive long-term investment vehicles, delivering robust returns across multiple time horizons, according to data compiled by ACEMF as of March 23, 2026. It has outpaced equity benchmarks over the period.
The performance highlighted the growing appeal of Gold ETFs amid sustained investor interest and their resilient performance compared with traditional equity benchmarks.
According to the ACEMF dataset, most Gold ETF schemes delivered strong returns within a year, underscoring strong momentum in gold-linked investment products.
On a one-year CAGR basis, most Gold ETFs delivered returns in excess of 50 per cent, reflecting the sharp rally in gold prices and strong investor demand for safe-haven assets. On a trailing basis, several funds also posted compelling multi-year returns, with many exhibiting double-digit annualised growth over five- and seven-year periods.
| Scheme name | 1 YEAR CAGR RETURN (%) | 3 YEARS | 5 YEARS | 7 YEARS | 10 YEARS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla SL Gold ETF | 52.8 | 30.2 | 23.8 | 22 | 15.5 |
| Nippon India ETF Gold BeES | 52.3 | 30.4 | 23.4 | 21.6 | 15.3 |
| Nippon India ETF Gold BeES | 52.5 | 30.2 | 23.7 | 21.8 | 15.3 |
| SBI Gold ETF | 52.4 | 30 | 23.7 | 21.9 | 15.3 |
Among the leading performers, schemes such as the Aditya Birla SL Gold ETF, Nippon India ETF Gold BeES, ICICI Pru Gold ETF, HDFC Gold ETF and Zerodha Gold ETF demonstrated consistent returns, with one-year growth rates hovering above 50 per cent.
However, longer horizons reflected gold’s sustained appeal amid market volatility and inflationary pressures. On a 3-year CAGR basis, Gold ETFs delivered annualised returns of around 30 per cent, while 5-year CAGR returns stood near 24 per cent. Over 7 years, annualised gains were close to 22 per cent.
According to the data, Gold ETFs have significantly outpaced traditional equity benchmarks over similar periods. For instance, the Nifty 50 Total Return Index (TRI) posted a modest negative return over one year and mid-single-digit to low double-digit gains over 3- and 5-year windows — markedly lower than gold-linked products.
An analysis of 10-year terms shows Gold ETFs delivering annualised growth north of 15 per cent, compared with around 12.7 per cent for the Nifty 50-TRI. This long-term performance underscores gold’s effectiveness as a portfolio diversifier and hedge against broader market fluctuations over cycles.
SIP growth
Similarly, performance through the SIP route was equally compelling. Monthly SIP of ₹1,000 grew to roughly ₹14,000 in one year, implying XIRR returns of about 38–40 per cent. Over longer horizons, the compounding impact becomes more visible, with the corpus rising to around ₹61,000 in three years, ₹1.23 lakh in five years, nearly ₹1.97 lakh in seven years, about ₹3.45 lakh in 10 years and over ₹6 lakh in 15 years.
Annualised SIP returns moderate gradually with tenure but remain attractive at roughly 20 per cent over 10 years and about 15 per cent over 15 years, reinforcing Gold ETFs as a steady long-term portfolio diversifier.
Market analysts noted that Gold ETFs have appealed to risk-aware investors seeking stability amid macroeconomic uncertainties, supply chain shifts and shifting monetary policy expectations globally. Gold’s traditional status as a safe-haven asset has contributed to steady inflows, particularly during periods of elevated equity market volatility.
With geopolitical risks, currency fluctuations and global macro uncertainties continuing to influence investor sentiment, Gold ETFs remain an important asset class for balanced portfolios.
Data source: ACEMF; All figures as of March 23, 2026.
Published on March 25, 2026