AOR vs. GLDM

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

AOR (iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF) and GLDM (SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - AOR is a Diversified Portfolio fund tracking the S&P Target Risk Growth Index, while GLDM is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AOR returned 6.66%/yr vs 17.89%/yr for GLDM. At a 0.21 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. AOR charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for GLDM.

Performance

AOR vs. GLDM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (AOR) and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AOR achieves a 5.83% return, which is significantly higher than GLDM's 0.30% return.

AOR

• 1D: 0.28%
• 1M: -0.54%
• YTD: 5.83%
• 6M: 6.57%
• 1Y: 17.08%
• 3Y*: 13.55%
• 5Y*: 6.66%
• 10Y*: 8.29%

GLDM

• 1D: 0.25%
• 1M: -8.41%
• YTD: 0.30%
• 6M: 3.19%
• 1Y: 30.55%
• 3Y*: 30.08%
• 5Y*: 17.89%
• 10Y*: —

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

AOR vs. GLDM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
AOR iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF	5.83%	16.44%	10.68%	15.75%	-15.64%	11.19%	11.42%	18.91%	-5.02%
GLDM SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust	0.30%	64.20%	27.08%	13.04%	-0.47%	-4.01%	25.10%	18.10%	1.84%

Correlation

The correlation between AOR and GLDM is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.33
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.29
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.26
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 27, 2018	0.21

The correlation between AOR and GLDM shifts across timeframes, from 0.21 (all time) to 0.33 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

AOR vs. GLDM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	AOR	GLDM
Technology	27.8%	-
Financial Services	16.2%	-
Industrials	11.9%	-
Consumer Cyclical	9.5%	-
Communication Services	8.1%	-
Healthcare	8.0%	-
Consumer Defensive	5.0%	-
Energy	4.3%	-
Basic Materials	4.2%	100.0%
Utilities	2.7%	-
Real Estate	2.4%	-

Return for Risk

AOR vs. GLDM — Risk / Return Rank

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

AOR

AOR Risk / Return Rank: 65
AOR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
AOR Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
AOR Omega Ratio Rank: 69
AOR Calmar Ratio Rank: 58
AOR Martin Ratio Rank: 67

GLDM

GLDM Risk / Return Rank: 34
GLDM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
GLDM Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
GLDM Omega Ratio Rank: 39
GLDM Calmar Ratio Rank: 34
GLDM Martin Ratio Rank: 29

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.

AOR vs. GLDM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (AOR) and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM). 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.

	AOR	GLDM	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.98	1.15	+0.83
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.78	1.54	+1.24
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.37	1.23	+0.14
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.58	1.53	+1.05
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	11.20	3.85	+7.36
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AOR vs. GLDM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AOR Sharpe Ratio is 1.98, which is higher than the GLDM Sharpe Ratio of 1.15. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AOR and GLDM, 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

	AOR	GLDM	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.98	1.15	+0.83
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.63	1.00	-0.37
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.78	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.68	0.99	-0.31

Drawdowns

AOR vs. GLDM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AOR drawdown since its inception was -24.44%, which is greater than GLDM's maximum drawdown of -21.63%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AOR and GLDM.

Drawdown Indicators

	AOR	GLDM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-24.44%	-21.63%	-2.81%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.64%	-20.00%	+13.36%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-9.77%	-20.00%	+10.23%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.72%	-20.92%	-0.80%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-22.95%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.98%	-19.80%	+17.82%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.47%	-6.24%	+2.77%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.53%	7.96%	-6.43%

Volatility

AOR vs. GLDM - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (AOR) is 3.07%, while SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) has a volatility of 5.65%. This indicates that AOR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLDM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	AOR	GLDM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.07%	5.65%	-2.58%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.11%	23.31%	-16.20%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	8.67%	26.65%	-17.98%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	10.59%	17.98%	-7.39%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	10.69%	16.89%	-6.20%

AOR vs. GLDM - Expense Ratio Comparison

AOR has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than GLDM's 0.10% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

AOR vs. GLDM - Dividend Comparison

AOR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.51%, while GLDM has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
AOR iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF	2.51%	2.55%	2.66%	2.50%	2.12%	1.64%	1.89%	2.56%	2.49%	4.51%	2.16%	2.12%
GLDM SPDR Gold MiniShares 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

Can I hold both AOR and GLDM in my portfolio?

AOR and GLDM have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, AOR or GLDM?

GLDM has higher volatility (5.65%) compared to AOR (3.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AOR dropped -24.44% vs GLDM's -21.63%.

Which ETF is better, AOR or GLDM?

On 5-year performance, GLDM leads with 17.89% vs 6.66% for AOR. On fees, GLDM is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, AOR has been the lower-risk option at 3.07%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, AOR or GLDM?

Over the 5-year period, GLDM has performed better with a 17.89% return vs 6.66%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, AOR or GLDM?

GLDM is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for AOR.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, AOR or GLDM?

AOR has the higher dividend yield at 2.51%, compared with 0.00% for GLDM.

What is the main difference between AOR and GLDM?

AOR is categorized as Diversified Portfolio, while GLDM is Gold. AOR tracks S&P Target Risk Growth Index, while GLDM tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for AOR and 0.10% for GLDM.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

AOR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.98 vs 1.15), 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.