AAAU vs. GDX
Compare and contrast key facts about Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) and VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX).
AAAU and GDX are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. AAAU is a passively managed fund by Goldman Sachs that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold PM Price. It was launched on Jul 26, 2018. GDX is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the NYSE MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index. It was launched on May 16, 2006. Both AAAU and GDX are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
AAAU vs. GDX - Performance Comparison
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AAAU vs. GDX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAAU Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF | 10.48% | 64.06% | 26.91% | 12.96% | -0.50% | -4.01% | 25.02% | 18.17% | 9.20% |
GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 11.94% | 154.77% | 10.63% | 9.98% | -9.01% | -9.52% | 23.66% | 39.84% | 13.99% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AAAU achieves a 10.48% return, which is significantly lower than GDX's 11.94% return.
AAAU
- 1D
- 1.78%
- 1M
- -10.64%
- YTD
- 10.48%
- 6M
- 23.10%
- 1Y
- 52.53%
- 3Y*
- 33.97%
- 5Y*
- 22.27%
- 10Y*
- —
GDX
- 1D
- 4.62%
- 1M
- -16.76%
- YTD
- 11.94%
- 6M
- 25.38%
- 1Y
- 111.15%
- 3Y*
- 45.40%
- 5Y*
- 25.09%
- 10Y*
- 18.07%
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AAAU vs. GDX - Expense Ratio Comparison
AAAU has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than GDX's 0.51% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
AAAU vs. GDX — Risk / Return Rank
AAAU
GDX
AAAU vs. GDX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) and VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX). 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.
| AAAU | GDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.92 | 2.42 | -0.50 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.35 | 2.60 | -0.25 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.38 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.73 | 3.58 | -0.85 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.02 | 12.86 | -2.84 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| AAAU | GDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.92 | 2.42 | -0.50 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.27 | 0.71 | +0.57 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.48 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.18 | 0.14 | +1.04 |
Correlation
The correlation between AAAU and GDX is 0.78, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
AAAU vs. GDX - Dividend Comparison
AAAU has not paid dividends to shareholders, while GDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.66%.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAAU Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 0.66% | 0.74% | 1.19% | 1.61% | 1.66% | 1.67% | 0.53% | 0.67% | 0.50% | 0.76% | 0.26% | 0.85% |
Drawdowns
AAAU vs. GDX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AAAU drawdown since its inception was -21.63%, smaller than the maximum GDX drawdown of -80.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAAU and GDX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AAAU | GDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -21.63% | -80.34% | +58.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.13% | -30.84% | +11.71% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.94% | -46.51% | +25.57% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -49.79% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.65% | -17.12% | +5.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.01% | -40.60% | +34.59% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.21% | 8.58% | -3.37% |
Volatility
AAAU vs. GDX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) is 10.43%, while VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) has a volatility of 17.26%. This indicates that AAAU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GDX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AAAU | GDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.43% | 17.26% | -6.83% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.06% | 38.43% | -14.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.50% | 46.20% | -18.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.58% | 35.76% | -18.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.92% | 37.46% | -20.54% |