Investors Buy Large Volume of iShares Gold Trust Call Options (NYSEARCA:IAU)

iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU) was the target of unusually large options trading on Thursday. Traders acquired 16,025 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 52% compared to the average daily volume of 10,511 call options.

iShares Gold Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:IAU opened at $91.20 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $77.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.53 and a beta of 0.09. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $84.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $74.99. iShares Gold Trust has a fifty-two week low of $52.74 and a fifty-two week high of $104.40.

Key Stories Impacting iShares Gold Trust

Here are the key news stories impacting iShares Gold Trust this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts characterize the recent sell‑off as a healthy correction that could clear excess speculative positioning and set up further upside later in the cycle. Don’t panic: Analysts see gold and silver’s sell-off as a healthy correction
• Positive Sentiment: Longer‑term structural supports remain: central‑bank buying, geopolitical risks and ongoing reallocation into gold are cited by industry groups and strategists as underpinning demand. Gold Demand to Remain Strong as Investors Reassess Risk, WGC Says
• Positive Sentiment: IAU saw unusual options activity recently with a large block of call buying, signaling some investors were positioned for further upside before the pullback (potential short‑term bullish flow into the ETF).
• Neutral Sentiment: Citi’s outlook: gold is being supported today by overlapping geopolitical and economic risks, though Citi warns roughly half that risk premium could fade later in 2026 — a mixed near‑term vs. medium‑term view. Citi sees gold supported by risks, with some fading expected later in 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Technically, commentators note the move has hit key retracement levels; some see the decline as a buying opportunity while others warn it could signal a deeper consolidation — outcomes are data and sentiment dependent. Gold News: Did Volatile, but Orderly 50% Correction Just Set Up Buy or Signal Top?
• Negative Sentiment: Nomination of Kevin Warsh to chair the Fed relieved some market fears about politicization of the central bank and reduced a portion of the “policy‑risk” premium that supported gold, prompting profit‑taking. Gold and Silver Prices Plunge from Record Highs—What Investors Need to Know
• Negative Sentiment: Rapid, broad selling across gold and silver (including large intraday drops and an 18% plunge in silver in some notes) reflects stretched positioning and a strong dollar/inflation‑data backdrop that can pressure bullion and ETF flows. Gold (XAUUSD), Silver, Platinum Forecasts – Silver Collapses 18% As Traders Rush For Exits

Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares Gold Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,362 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $760,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Foster Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 5,126 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $416,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Two West Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in iShares Gold Trust by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Two West Capital Advisors LLC now owns 7,035 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $571,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc increased its position in iShares Gold Trust by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc now owns 4,063 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $330,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Evolution Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 1.5% during the third quarter. Evolution Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,875 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $646,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. 59.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About iShares Gold Trust

iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trust’s custodian on behalf of the Trust. The sponsor of the Trust is iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the Sponsor), which is an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc The trustee of the Trust is The Bank of New York Mellon (the Trustee) and the custodian of the Trust is JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., London branch (the Custodian).