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iShares Gold Trust (IAU)

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Sep 30, 2023

iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is a passive exchange-traded fund (ETF) managed by BlackRock's iShares division. The fund aims to track the performance of the price of gold bullion, which is a physical asset and a store of value. IAU was first launched on January 28th, 2005. The fund holds gold bullion in London vaults, and the price of the fund's shares is based on the current market price of gold bullion. The expense ratio of IAU is 0.25%. The fund might be suitable for investors looking to gain exposure to the price of gold as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty.

Summary

ETF Info

ISINUS4642851053
CUSIP464285105
IssueriShares
Inception DateJan 28, 2005
CategoryPrecious Metals, Gold
Index TrackedGold Bullion
ETF Home Pagewww.ishares.com
Asset ClassCommodity

Expense Ratio

The iShares Gold Trust has a high expense ratio of 0.25%, indicating higher-than-average management fees.


0.25%
0.00%2.15%

Share Price Chart


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Performance

The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in iShares Gold Trust, comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index or another benchmark. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends.


-5.00%0.00%5.00%10.00%MayJuneJulyAugustSeptember
-7.07%
3.96%
IAU (iShares Gold Trust)
Benchmark (^GSPC)

S&P 500

Compare to other instruments

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds to compare with IAU

iShares Gold Trust

Popular comparisons: IAU vs. GLD, IAU vs. IAUM, IAU vs. GDX, IAU vs. GLDM, IAU vs. AAAU, IAU vs. IAUF, IAU vs. SGOL, IAU vs. DBC, IAU vs. VOO, IAU vs. EMB

Return

iShares Gold Trust had a return of 1.16% year-to-date (YTD) and 10.97% in the last 12 months. Over the past 10 years, iShares Gold Trust had an annualized return of 3.25%, while the S&P 500 had an annualized return of 9.75%, indicating that iShares Gold Trust did not perform as well as the benchmark.


PeriodReturnBenchmark
1 month-4.79%-4.87%
6 months-6.37%4.35%
Year-To-Date1.16%11.68%
1 year10.97%19.59%
5 years (annualized)9.06%7.97%
10 years (annualized)3.25%9.75%

Monthly Returns Heatmap


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20237.94%0.91%-1.35%-2.18%2.23%-1.21%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and S&P 500 (^GSPC). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.


Sharpe ratioSortino ratioOmega ratioCalmar ratioUlcer Index
IAU
iShares Gold Trust
0.78
^GSPC
S&P 500
0.89

Sharpe Ratio

The current iShares Gold Trust Sharpe ratio is 0.78. A Sharpe ratio between 0 and 1.0 is considered sub-optimal.


Rolling 12-month Sharpe Ratio-0.500.000.501.00MayJuneJulyAugustSeptember
0.78
0.89
IAU (iShares Gold Trust)
Benchmark (^GSPC)

Dividend History


iShares Gold Trust doesn't pay dividends

Drawdowns Chart

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way.


-15.00%-10.00%-5.00%0.00%MayJuneJulyAugustSeptember
-11.03%
-10.60%
IAU (iShares Gold Trust)
Benchmark (^GSPC)

Worst Drawdowns

The table below shows the maximum drawdowns of the iShares Gold Trust. A maximum drawdown is an indicator of risk. It shows a reduction in portfolio value from its maximum due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown since January 2010 for the iShares Gold Trust is 45.14%, recorded on Dec 2, 2015. It took 1169 trading sessions for the portfolio to recover.


Depth

Start

To Bottom

Bottom

To Recover

End

Total

-45.14%Aug 23, 20111077Dec 2, 20151169Jul 27, 20202246
-29.23%Mar 18, 2008168Nov 12, 2008211Sep 16, 2009379
-21.99%May 12, 200623Jun 14, 2006317Sep 18, 2007340
-21.63%Aug 7, 2020538Sep 26, 2022
-12.71%Dec 3, 200945Feb 8, 201064May 11, 2010109

Volatility Chart

The current iShares Gold Trust volatility is 2.40%, representing the average percentage change in the investments's value, either up or down over the past month. The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


2.00%3.00%4.00%5.00%6.00%MayJuneJulyAugustSeptember
2.40%
3.17%
IAU (iShares Gold Trust)
Benchmark (^GSPC)

Alternatives


SymbolInceptionExpense RatioYTD Ret.10Y Ann. Ret.Div. YieldMax. DrawdownSharpe RatioSortino ratioOmega ratioCalmar ratioUlcer Index
AAAUJul 26, 20180.18%1.2%9.1%0.0%-21.6%0.81.61.21.14.2%
GDXMay 22, 20060.53%-6.1%1.9%1.8%-80.6%0.51.31.10.611.8%
GLDNov 18, 20040.40%1.1%3.3%0.0%-45.6%0.81.61.21.14.3%
GLDMJun 25, 20180.18%1.3%7.4%0.0%-21.6%0.81.71.21.14.2%
IAUFJun 6, 20180.25%0.9%N/A0.9%-23.4%0.71.51.21.14.3%
SGOLSep 9, 20090.17%1.3%3.4%0.0%-45.5%0.81.61.21.14.3%

Portfolios with iShares Gold Trust


Portfolio NameYTD Return10Y ReturnDiv. Yield10Y VolatilityMax. DrawdownExpense RatioSharpe RatioSortino ratioOmega ratioCalmar ratioUlcer Index
7Twelve Portfolio3.10%4.52%2.49%9.83%-22.46%0.14%0.751.51.21.32.7%
Gone Fishin’ Portfolio3.79%5.32%3.04%12.04%-26.03%0.12%0.841.71.21.53.0%
Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio3.47%4.48%1.98%5.79%-16.15%0.06%0.731.61.21.31.8%
Pinwheel Portfolio2.90%5.19%2.25%11.09%-23.65%0.09%0.771.51.21.33.1%