What this ETF is trying to do

The Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (FGDL) is an exchange-traded fund that focuses on gold. Based on its name, it aims to provide exposure to gold that is sourced responsibly.

What the numbers show

As of October 5, 2026, the share price for FGDL was $55.13.

When looking at how the price has changed over time, we see different results depending on the time frame:

• Year-to-Date: The price return is -4.29%.

• One Year: The price return is 5.98%.

• Three Years: The price return is 126.58%.

Because this ETF does not pay distributions, the price return and the total return are the same. For example, the one-year total return is 5.98%.

To understand the one-year price change, we can look at an estimated price from roughly one year ago, which was $52.02. If you had invested $10,000 based on that estimated price, your investment would be worth approximately $10,597.52 today, based on the current price.

Income and distribution explanation

Some investors buy ETFs to get regular cash payments, known as distributions. However, FGDL has a distribution yield of 0% and no distributions were detected over the last 12 months. This means this ETF does not currently provide cash income to its investors.

NAV erosion explanation

"NAV erosion" happens when the underlying value of a fund's assets drops over time, which can lead to a falling share price. StockValueFinder uses an erosion-risk score to measure this.

FGDL has an erosion score of 100, and the erosion severity is listed as "good." The data states that no price erosion was detected, and the severe erosion-risk flag is false.

Pros

• The ETF has shown a strong three-year price return of 126.58%.

• There is no detected NAV erosion, meaning the price trend has not triggered any risk warnings.

Cons

• The ETF does not pay any distributions, so it provides no cash income.

• The year-to-date price return is negative (-4.29%).

Beginner takeaway

FGDL is a gold-focused ETF that has seen significant growth over the last three years, though it has dipped slightly so far this year. It is important for beginners to know that not all ETFs pay income. While some investors look for high yields, a high yield can sometimes be misleading if the share price is falling. In the case of FGDL, there is no yield at all; the only way to make money is if the share price increases.