BAR vs. DGZ
BAR (GraniteShares Gold Trust) and DGZ (DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes) are both exchange-traded funds - BAR is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while DGZ is a Inverse Commodities fund tracking the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return (-100%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BAR returned 17.06%/yr vs -9.37%/yr for DGZ. At a correlation of -0.65, they often move in opposite directions. BAR charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for DGZ.
Performance
BAR vs. DGZ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BAR achieves a -6.10% return, which is significantly lower than DGZ's 9.68% return.
BAR
- 1D
- 1.29%
- 1M
- -3.79%
- 6M
- -11.69%
- YTD
- -6.10%
- 1Y
- 20.98%
- 3Y*
- 27.28%
- 5Y*
- 17.06%
- 10Y*
- —
DGZ
- 1D
- 2.15%
- 1M
- 8.56%
- 6M
- 15.31%
- YTD
- 9.68%
- 1Y
- -9.24%
- 3Y*
- -14.95%
- 5Y*
- -9.37%
- 10Y*
- -7.44%
BAR vs. DGZ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAR GraniteShares Gold Trust | -6.10% | 64.12% | 26.97% | 12.96% | -0.55% | -3.92% | 25.02% | 18.16% | -1.87% | -0.79% |
DGZ DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes | 9.68% | -32.55% | -16.46% | -4.75% | 4.93% | 1.53% | -20.80% | -13.42% | 4.88% | 0.60% |
Correlation
The correlation between BAR and DGZ is -0.36, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.36 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.42 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.56 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 31, 2017 | -0.65 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between BAR and DGZ has weakened: their correlation has moved from -0.65 to -0.36, meaning they move in opposite directions less often than they have historically.
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Return for Risk
BAR vs. DGZ — Risk / Return Rank
BAR
DGZ
BAR vs. DGZ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR) and DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes (DGZ). 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.
| BAR | DGZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.89 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.04 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.81 | -0.26 | +1.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.95 | -0.46 | +2.41 |
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Drawdowns
BAR vs. DGZ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BAR drawdown since its inception was -26.15%, smaller than the maximum DGZ drawdown of -86.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BAR and DGZ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BAR | DGZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.15% | -86.32% | +60.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.15% | -36.14% | +9.99% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.15% | -59.54% | +33.39% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.15% | -61.54% | +35.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -71.49% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.94% | -81.21% | +56.27% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.64% | -57.87% | +51.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 10.78% | 20.18% | -9.40% |
Volatility
BAR vs. DGZ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR) is 6.92%, while DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes (DGZ) has a volatility of 24.05%. This indicates that BAR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DGZ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BAR | DGZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.92% | 24.05% | -17.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.05% | 58.99% | -34.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.73% | 70.14% | -42.41% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.29% | 36.89% | -18.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.59% | 28.41% | -11.82% |
BAR vs. DGZ - Expense Ratio Comparison
BAR has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than DGZ's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
BAR vs. DGZ - Dividend Comparison
Neither BAR nor DGZ has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
BAR and DGZ have a correlation of -0.36, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DGZ has higher volatility (24.05%) compared to BAR (6.92%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BAR dropped -26.15% vs DGZ's -86.32%.
On 5-year performance, BAR leads with 17.06% vs -9.37% for DGZ. On fees, BAR is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, BAR has been the lower-risk option at 6.92%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BAR has performed better with a 17.06% return vs -9.37%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BAR is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for DGZ.
BAR and DGZ have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
BAR is categorized as Gold, while DGZ is Inverse Commodities. BAR tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while DGZ tracks Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return (-100%). They also come from different issuers: GraniteShares and Deutsche Bank. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for BAR and 0.75% for DGZ.
BAR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.76 vs -0.13), 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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