AAAU vs. SLV
AAAU (Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF) and SLV (iShares Silver Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - AAAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold PM Price, while SLV is a Silver fund tracking the LBMA Silver Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AAAU returned 17.51%/yr vs 16.71%/yr for SLV. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. AAAU charges 0.18%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for SLV.
Performance
AAAU vs. SLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AAAU achieves a -6.75% return, which is significantly higher than SLV's -18.72% return.
AAAU
- 1D
- 0.97%
- 1M
- -10.77%
- YTD
- -6.75%
- 6M
- -10.23%
- 1Y
- 20.50%
- 3Y*
- 27.69%
- 5Y*
- 17.51%
- 10Y*
- —
SLV
- 1D
- 1.12%
- 1M
- -24.90%
- YTD
- -18.72%
- 6M
- -19.72%
- 1Y
- 58.62%
- 3Y*
- 35.82%
- 5Y*
- 16.71%
- 10Y*
- 11.99%
AAAU vs. SLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAAU Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF | -6.75% | 64.06% | 26.91% | 12.96% | -0.50% | -4.01% | 25.02% | 18.17% | 8.28% |
SLV iShares Silver Trust | -18.72% | 144.66% | 20.89% | -1.09% | 2.37% | -12.45% | 47.30% | 14.88% | 2.47% |
Correlation
The correlation between AAAU and SLV is 0.80, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 15, 2018 | 0.77 |
The correlation between AAAU and SLV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.80 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
AAAU vs. SLV — Risk / Return Rank
AAAU
SLV
AAAU vs. SLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| AAAU | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.22 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.30 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.22 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.79 | 1.16 | -0.37 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.20 | 2.63 | -0.43 |
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Drawdowns
AAAU vs. SLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AAAU drawdown since its inception was -26.14%, smaller than the maximum SLV drawdown of -76.28%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAAU and SLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AAAU | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.14% | -76.28% | +50.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.14% | -50.97% | +24.83% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.14% | -50.97% | +24.83% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.14% | -50.97% | +24.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -50.97% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -25.43% | -50.42% | +24.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.30% | -44.66% | +38.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.33% | 22.37% | -13.04% |
Volatility
AAAU vs. SLV - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) is 8.68%, while iShares Silver Trust (SLV) has a volatility of 15.50%. This indicates that AAAU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AAAU | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.68% | 15.50% | -6.82% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.26% | 59.60% | -35.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.44% | 60.77% | -33.33% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.14% | 36.74% | -18.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.19% | 32.16% | -14.97% |
AAAU vs. SLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
AAAU has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than SLV's 0.50% expense ratio.
Dividends
AAAU vs. SLV - Dividend Comparison
Neither AAAU nor SLV has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
AAAU and SLV have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SLV has higher volatility (15.50%) compared to AAAU (8.68%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AAAU dropped -26.14% vs SLV's -76.28%.
On 5-year performance, AAAU leads with 17.51% vs 16.71% for SLV. On fees, AAAU is cheaper at 0.18% per year. On volatility, AAAU has been the lower-risk option at 8.68%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, AAAU has performed better with a 17.51% return vs 16.71%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
AAAU is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for SLV.
AAAU and SLV have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
AAAU is categorized as Gold, while SLV is Silver. AAAU tracks LBMA Gold PM Price, while SLV tracks LBMA Silver Price. They also come from different issuers: Goldman Sachs and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.18% for AAAU and 0.50% for SLV.
SLV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.97 vs 0.75), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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