Fund Evaluator:
VanEck International Investors Gold C (IIGCX)
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Best Performing in Equity Precious Metals Over the Last Year
| 69.9% | Midas Discovery (MIDSX) |
| 69.6% | Gabelli Gold I (GLDIX) |
| 68.3% | US Global Investors World Prec Mnral (UNWPX) |
| 67.6% | US Global Investors Gld & Prec Mtls (USERX) |
| 64.0% | Sprott Gold Equity Investor (SGDLX) |
Fund Details
VanEck International Investors Gold C Overview
VanEck International Investors Gold C (IIGCX) is an actively managed Sector Equity Equity Precious Metals fund. VanEck launched the fund in 2003.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation; current income is a secondary consideration. The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of companies principally engaged in gold-related activities, instruments that derive their value from gold, gold coins and bullion. A company principally engaged in gold-related activities is one that derives at least 50% of its revenues from gold-related activities, including the exploration, mining or processing of or dealing in gold. It concentrates its investments in the gold-mining industry and therefore invests 25% or more of its total assets in such industry. The fund is non-diversified.
About VanEck International Investors Gold C (IIGCX)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 12.34 years: Imaru Casanova (2014). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MarketVector Global Gold Miners TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. VanEck International Investors Gold C has 45 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 49.7% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
VanEck International Investors Gold C is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity fund group. VanEck International Investors Gold C has 81.6% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 13.1%. There is 81.6% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). VanEck International Investors Gold C has 1.7% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $70 million in total assets, which is below the $547 million average for the Equity Precious Metals category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
IIGCX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The VanEck International Investors Gold C expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Equity Precious Metals category. VanEck International Investors Gold C has an expense ratio of 2.12%, which is 66% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a F. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. VanEck International Investors Gold C has a portfolio turnover rate of 30%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 58% for the Equity Precious Metals category.
Recently, in the month of August 2026, VanEck International Investors Gold C returned 29.2%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Equity Precious Metals category had an average return of 31.4%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
VanEck International Investors Gold C has a trailing yield of 5.96%, which is above the 4.40% category average. The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
VanEck International Investors Gold C Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 19.2%, 2.4 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 68.5% over the past year (grade of B), 55.8% over the past three years (grade of B) and 27.2% per year over the past five years (grade of B) and 15.3% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
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IIGCX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 8/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| IIGCX Return (NAV) | 29.2% | 9.3% | 68.5% | 55.8% | 27.2% | 15.3% |
| IIGCX Grade | F | D | B | B | B | B |
| +/- Category | -2.2% | -0.4% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Equity Precious Metals Avg | 31.4% | 9.7% | 62.2% | 52.2% | 25.0% | 14.7% |
| IIGCX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 2.8% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% |
IIGCX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 8/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| IIGCX Return (NAV) | 19.2% | 163.8% | 13.8% | 8.9% | -14.5% | -14.9% | 40.3% | 37.1% | -16.7% | 12.2% | 52.0% |
| IIGCX Grade | A | B | C | A | D | F | A | D | F | B | C |
| +/- Category | 2.4% | 10.1% | -0.4% | 4.3% | -1.0% | -5.5% | 8.3% | -4.9% | -2.4% | 3.1% | 0.6% |
| Equity Precious Metals Avg | 16.7% | 153.6% | 14.1% | 4.6% | -13.5% | -9.4% | 32.0% | 42.1% | -14.4% | 9.1% | 51.4% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 37.9% |
| Total Risk Index: | 3.12 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.99 - Below Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | B (31% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.81 |
| R-Squared: | 7% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Mid-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 6.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $1746 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 70 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | C |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 30% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 1 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 12.3 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 12.3 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Casanova Imaru (2014) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 45 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 49.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 81.6% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 13.1% |
| Foreign Stock: | 81.6% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 3.6% |
| Cash: | 1.7% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | VanEck |
| Phone Number: | 800-826-2333 |
| Website: | www.vaneck.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | October 3, 2003 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 1.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 1.00% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 2.12% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.28% |
| Share Class: | VanEck International Investors Gold A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 100 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
