AGD vs. IAF

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

AGD (abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund) and IAF (Abrdn Australia Equity Fund Inc) are both mutual funds - AGD is a Global Equity Income fund actively managed by abrdn, while IAF is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by abrdn. Over the past 10 years, AGD returned 13.34%/yr vs 8.49%/yr for IAF. At a 0.50 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. AGD charges 1.14%/yr vs 0.02%/yr for IAF.

Performance

AGD vs. IAF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund (AGD) and Abrdn Australia Equity Fund Inc (IAF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AGD achieves a 13.13% return, which is significantly higher than IAF's 3.50% return. Over the past 10 years, AGD has outperformed IAF with an annualized return of 13.34%, while IAF has yielded a comparatively lower 8.49% annualized return.

AGD

• 1D: -0.48%
• 1M: 3.19%
• YTD: 13.13%
• 6M: 14.59%
• 1Y: 36.12%
• 3Y*: 23.04%
• 5Y*: 10.57%
• 10Y*: 13.34%

IAF

• 1D: -0.81%
• 1M: 3.04%
• YTD: 3.50%
• 6M: 5.29%
• 1Y: 7.41%
• 3Y*: 11.82%
• 5Y*: 2.06%
• 10Y*: 8.49%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AGD vs. IAF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
AGD abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund	13.13%	34.31%	16.39%	7.36%	-15.31%	23.74%	9.49%	32.49%	-14.98%	33.04%
IAF Abrdn Australia Equity Fund Inc	3.50%	14.94%	8.20%	10.40%	-19.44%	27.08%	10.07%	26.57%	-16.80%	30.26%

Correlation

The correlation between AGD and IAF is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.28
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.47
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.52
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.49
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 28, 2006	0.50

Over the past year, the correlation between AGD and IAF has dropped to 0.28 - well below their long-term average of 0.50, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

AGD vs. IAF — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

AGD

AGD Risk / Return Rank: 23
AGD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 28
AGD Sortino Ratio Rank: 19
AGD Omega Ratio Rank: 34
AGD Calmar Ratio Rank: 24
AGD Martin Ratio Rank: 13

IAF

IAF Risk / Return Rank: 6
IAF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6
IAF Sortino Ratio Rank: 6
IAF Omega Ratio Rank: 5
IAF Calmar Ratio Rank: 6
IAF Martin Ratio Rank: 5

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

AGD vs. IAF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund (AGD) and Abrdn Australia Equity Fund Inc (IAF). 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.

	AGD	IAF	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.52	0.42	+1.10
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.81	0.71	+1.10
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.09	+0.22
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.79	0.46	+1.33
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.85	1.27	+2.58
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AGD vs. IAF - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AGD Sharpe Ratio is 1.52, which is higher than the IAF Sharpe Ratio of 0.42. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AGD and IAF, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	AGD	IAF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.52	0.42	+1.10
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.56	0.09	+0.47
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.68	0.37	+0.31
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.18	0.21	-0.03

Drawdowns

AGD vs. IAF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AGD drawdown since its inception was -76.36%, which is greater than IAF's maximum drawdown of -67.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AGD and IAF.

Drawdown Indicators

	AGD	IAF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-76.36%	-67.68%	-8.68%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-20.25%	-16.18%	-4.07%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.25%	-23.64%	+3.39%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.16%	-33.95%	+5.79%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-44.12%	-43.93%	-0.19%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.16%	-7.65%	+5.49%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-29.90%	-22.82%	-7.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	9.42%	5.87%	+3.55%

Volatility

AGD vs. IAF - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund (AGD) is 4.22%, while Abrdn Australia Equity Fund Inc (IAF) has a volatility of 5.57%. This indicates that AGD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	AGD	IAF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.22%	5.57%	-1.35%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.32%	14.27%	+2.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	23.88%	17.59%	+6.29%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.98%	22.58%	-3.60%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.60%	22.72%	-3.12%

AGD vs. IAF - Expense Ratio Comparison

AGD has a 1.14% expense ratio, which is higher than IAF's 0.02% expense ratio.

Dividends

AGD vs. IAF - Dividend Comparison

AGD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.07%, less than IAF's 11.52% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
AGD abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund	11.07%	11.41%	10.46%	8.35%	8.25%	6.45%	7.47%	7.50%	9.17%	7.22%	8.89%	8.77%
IAF Abrdn Australia Equity Fund Inc	11.52%	11.30%	11.69%	11.32%	12.53%	10.25%	9.68%	10.54%	13.26%	10.05%	11.99%	14.31%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AGD and IAF in my portfolio?

AGD and IAF have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, AGD or IAF?

IAF has higher volatility (5.57%) compared to AGD (4.22%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AGD dropped -76.36% vs IAF's -67.68%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

AGD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.52 vs 0.42), 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.