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Company

Franklin Templeton Holdings Trust

Ticker
FGDL
Sector
Industry
Report date
August 15, 2026
Valye AI Score

82

Very high visibility
Recent developments
Recent developments summary

Recent news highlights significant selling pressure on FGDL shares and notable ETF outflows in recent years, alongside recognition in commodity ETF rankings.

Recent developments:
  • FGDL has experienced significant selling pressure with a crowded seller environment reported in June 2026 [N1].
  • The Fund has been featured in multiple articles highlighting it as one of the best commodity ETFs in early 2025 and 2024 [N2,N5].
  • The Fund was noted in analyst blogs and articles focusing on gold ETFs during early 2025 [N3,N4].
  • Significant ETF outflows were reported in mid-2023, indicating investor redemptions [N6].
Overview

Franklin Templeton Holdings Trust is a Delaware statutory trust formed in 2021 that offers a single series ETF, the Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (FGDL). The Fund's objective is to reflect the price performance of gold bullion less expenses by holding only gold bullion and cash. It focuses on responsibly sourced gold refined after 2012 according to LBMA standards. Shares represent fractional undivided interests in the Fund's gold bullion and cash and are created and redeemed in Creation Units of 50,000 shares by authorized participants in exchange for gold bullion. The Fund's expenses are limited to a 0.15% annual sponsor fee, with the sponsor covering most ordinary expenses. The Fund is not registered as an investment company and does not have officers or directors. The NAV is calculated daily based on LBMA gold prices. Shares do not confer traditional shareholder rights and are held in book-entry form through DTC. The Sponsor may terminate the Fund at its discretion with notice to shareholders.

Executive summary

Financial figures (if any) are summarized from the latest available SEC filings and are provided for informational purposes only — not financial advice. Franklin Templeton Holdings Trust operates as a Delaware statutory trust offering the Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (FGDL), which seeks to track the price of gold bullion less expenses by holding only responsibly sourced gold bullion and cash. The Fund issues shares representing fractional interests in gold bullion, created and redeemed in large blocks by authorized participants. The Fund's expenses are primarily a 0.15% annual sponsor fee, with the sponsor covering most ordinary expenses. The Fund is not registered as an investment company and does not have traditional corporate governance structures. Recent SEC filings report a net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Recent news indicates selling pressure and notable ETF outflows in recent years.

Scenarios for FGDL

Bull case model:

The Fund benefits from its clear focus on responsibly sourced gold, which may appeal to ESG-conscious investors. Its low expense ratio and backing by Franklin Templeton provide operational efficiency and brand recognition. The Fund's structure allows for transparent tracking of gold prices with minimal active management risk. Its listing on NYSE Arca and use of established custodians and administrators support liquidity and investor confidence. The Fund's ability to create and redeem shares in large blocks facilitates market efficiency.

Bear case model:

The Fund's reliance on physical gold holdings exposes it to risks related to gold price volatility and liquidity constraints in sourcing responsibly sourced gold. The gradual decline in gold per share due to expense payments may affect investor perception. The Fund lacks traditional corporate governance and shareholder rights, which may limit investor influence. Recent reports of selling pressure and ETF outflows indicate potential challenges in maintaining investor demand. The Fund is not regulated as an investment company or commodity pool, which may affect regulatory protections for investors.

Moat:

The Fund's moat derives from its structure as a statutory trust offering a specialized gold ETF focused on responsibly sourced gold, leveraging the Franklin Templeton brand and established custodial and administrative relationships. Its focus on post-2012 responsibly sourced gold aligns with growing ESG considerations, potentially differentiating it from other gold ETFs. The Fund's operational model, including creation and redemption in large blocks by authorized participants and low expense ratio, supports efficient management and liquidity. However, as a passive trust holding physical gold, its moat is limited by the commoditized nature of gold investment products and competition from other gold ETFs.

Risks overview
Risks summary
The primary risks include gold price volatility, liquidity constraints in sourcing responsibly sourced gold, and the structural limitations of the Fund's governance and regulatory status.
Risks details:

• Gold Price Volatility: The Fund's performance is directly tied to the price of gold bullion, which can be highly volatile and influenced by global economic and geopolitical factors.
• Liquidity and Sourcing Constraints: The Fund seeks to hold only responsibly sourced gold refined after 2012, which may limit availability and liquidity, especially under unusual market conditions.
• Limited Shareholder Rights: Shares do not confer traditional corporate shareholder rights and have limited voting rights, potentially limiting investor influence over Fund operations.
• Expense Impact on Gold Holdings: The Fund sells gold bullion to pay expenses, causing the amount of gold per share to decline over time, which may affect investor returns relative to gold price movements.
• Regulatory and Structural Risks: The Fund is not registered as an investment company and is not regulated as a commodity pool, which may affect investor protections and regulatory oversight.

FINAL FORECAST FOR FGDL

Final take one line
Franklin Templeton Holdings Trust operates a clearly defined gold ETF with high transparency but faces challenges from gold price volatility and investor outflows.
Final take 12 to 24 month view

Business trends: Continued focus on responsibly sourced gold and ESG alignment amid fluctuating investor demand.
Execution milestones: Maintaining liquidity and operational efficiency through authorized participant mechanisms and expense management.
Key risks: Gold price volatility, liquidity constraints for responsibly sourced gold, and structural limitations in governance and regulatory protections.

Valye AI Visibility Research Score

Very high visibility

Visibility score reflects the breadth and consistency of available disclosure across SEC filings, recent public reporting, and baseline business context (research-only; not investment advice).

82
LLM visibility overview
LLM Visibility known facts
  • Franklin Templeton Holdings Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized on April 19, 2021, governed by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 10, 2022 [S1].
  • The Trust offers a single series, the Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (FGDL), listed on NYSE Arca [S1].
  • The Fund's investment objective is to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion less expenses [S1].
  • The Fund holds only gold bullion and cash, with a policy to hold only responsibly sourced gold refined on or after January 1, 2012, in accordance with LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance [S1].
  • Shares represent fractional undivided beneficial interest in the Fund's gold bullion and cash [S1].
  • Shares are created and redeemed in Creation Units of 50,000 shares by Authorized Participants in exchange for gold bullion [S1].
  • The Fund's only ordinary recurring expense is a Sponsor fee of 0.15% annually of daily net asset value [S1].
  • The Sponsor assumes ordinary fees and expenses including administrator, custodian, trustee fees, listing fees, audit fees, and legal fees up to $500,000 per annum [S1].
  • The Fund sells gold bullion as needed to pay expenses, causing the amount of gold per share to gradually decline over time [S1].
  • The Fund is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and is not regulated as a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act [S1].
  • The Fund does not have officers, directors, or employees and is not managed like a corporation or active investment vehicle [S1].
  • The Fund's NAV is calculated daily based on LBMA Gold Price PM, subtracting accrued expenses and liabilities [S1].
  • Shares do not have traditional corporate shareholder rights and have limited voting rights as authorized by the Sponsor [S1].
  • Shares are held in book-entry form through DTC with no physical certificates issued [S1].
  • The Sponsor may terminate the Trust or Fund at its sole discretion with at least 30 days' notice to shareholders [S1].
  • The Fund reported a net loss of $60,252,403 for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, per the latest 10-Q filing [S2].
  • Liquidity ratios and other financial metrics are not disclosed in the latest SEC filings [S2].
  • Recent news highlights include significant selling pressure on FGDL shares as of June 2026 [N1].
  • FGDL has been featured in multiple articles highlighting it as a commodity ETF focused on gold, including mentions in best commodity ETFs lists in 2024 and Q1 2025 [N2,N5].
  • The Fund has experienced notable ETF outflows as reported in mid-2023 [N6].
Sources
Sources - Context summary

Generated 2026-08-15

Sources - Earning calls
Sources - Other context
Sources - SEC Filings
  • S1 | 2026-06-29 | 10-K
  • S2 | 2026-08-14 | 10-Q
Sources - News headlines
  • N1 | 2026-06-10 | www.nasdaq.com | FGDL Crowded With Sellers | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/fgdl-crowded-sellers
  • N2 | 2025-04-02 | www.nasdaq.com | 5 Best Commodity ETFs of Q1 | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/5-best-commodity-etfs-q1
  • N3 | 2025-02-27 | www.nasdaq.com | The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF, VanEck Merk Gold Trust, GraniteShares Gold Trust, iShares Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust Micro | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/zacks-analyst-blog-highlights-franklin-responsibly-sourced-gold-etf-vaneck-merk-gold-trust
  • N4 | 2025-02-26 | www.nasdaq.com | 5 ETFs Riding on Gold's Longest Rally in Four Years | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/5-etfs-riding-golds-longest-rally-four-years
  • N5 | 2025-01-06 | www.nasdaq.com | 5 Best Commodity ETFs of 2024 | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/5-best-commodity-etfs-2024
  • N6 | 2023-07-18 | www.nasdaq.com | SOXL, FGDL: Big ETF Outflows | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/soxl-fgdl:-big-etf-outflows
Important legal disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal or tax advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. The Valye AI Score is a model-based estimate derived from public information and is subject to change without notice. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information herein. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should conduct their own research and consult a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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