AAPL vs. IAU
AAPL (Apple Inc) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, AAPL returned 29.36%/yr vs 12.31%/yr for IAU. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
AAPL vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AAPL achieves a 7.29% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -2.44% return. Over the past 10 years, AAPL has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 29.36%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 12.31% annualized return.
AAPL
- 1D
- -1.52%
- 1M
- -2.59%
- YTD
- 7.29%
- 6M
- 4.81%
- 1Y
- 46.73%
- 3Y*
- 17.21%
- 5Y*
- 18.59%
- 10Y*
- 29.36%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -10.21%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 23.95%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
AAPL vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAPL Apple Inc | 7.29% | 9.05% | 30.71% | 49.01% | -26.40% | 34.65% | 82.31% | 88.96% | -5.39% | 48.46% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -2.44% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between AAPL and IAU is 0.10, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.10 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.02 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
AAPL vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
AAPL
IAU
AAPL vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Apple Inc (AAPL) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). 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.
| AAPL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.19 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.68 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.19 | +0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.40 | 0.99 | +2.42 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.47 | 2.83 | +5.64 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
AAPL vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AAPL drawdown since its inception was -81.80%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAPL and IAU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| AAPL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -81.80% | -45.14% | -36.66% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.80% | -24.40% | +10.60% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -33.36% | -24.40% | -8.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.36% | -24.40% | -8.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.52% | -24.40% | -14.12% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.64% | -22.03% | +14.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -29.59% | -15.97% | -13.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.53% | 8.47% | -2.94% |
Volatility
AAPL vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Apple Inc (AAPL) is 6.73%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 7.70%. This indicates that AAPL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| AAPL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.73% | 7.70% | -0.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.53% | 23.94% | -7.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.64% | 27.17% | -4.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.52% | 18.16% | +9.36% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 28.92% | 16.02% | +12.90% |
Dividends
AAPL vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
AAPL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.36%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAPL Apple Inc | 0.36% | 0.38% | 0.40% | 0.49% | 0.70% | 0.49% | 0.61% | 1.04% | 1.79% | 1.45% | 1.93% | 1.93% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AAPL and IAU have a correlation of 0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (7.70%) compared to AAPL (6.73%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AAPL dropped -81.80% vs IAU's -45.14%.
AAPL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.07 vs 0.89), 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.
Find the right allocation for AAPL and IAU
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer