BAR vs. VAW
Compare and contrast key facts about GraniteShares Gold Shares (BAR) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW).
BAR and VAW are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. BAR is a passively managed fund by GraniteShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). It was launched on Aug 31, 2017. VAW is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both BAR and VAW are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: BAR or VAW.
Key characteristics
| BAR | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 26.97% | 12.13% |
| 1Y Return | 35.20% | 26.32% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 11.86% | 4.09% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 12.20% | 12.02% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.31 | 1.92 |
| Sortino Ratio | 3.06 | 2.66 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.40 | 1.34 |
| Calmar Ratio | 5.10 | 2.20 |
| Martin Ratio | 15.26 | 9.42 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.22% | 2.95% |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.63% | 14.46% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.53% | -62.17% |
| Current Drawdown | -5.89% | -2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between BAR and VAW is 0.14, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
BAR vs. VAW - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, BAR achieves a 26.97% return, which is significantly higher than VAW's 12.13% return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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BAR vs. VAW - Expense Ratio Comparison
BAR has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is higher than VAW'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%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
BAR vs. VAW - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for GraniteShares Gold Shares (BAR) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW). 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.
Dividends
BAR vs. VAW - Dividend Comparison
BAR has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VAW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.53%.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAR GraniteShares Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 1.53% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 1.44% | 1.67% | 1.94% | 2.03% | 1.63% | 1.67% | 2.30% | 1.76% | 1.84% |
Drawdowns
BAR vs. VAW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BAR drawdown since its inception was -21.53%, smaller than the maximum VAW drawdown of -62.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BAR and VAW. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
BAR vs. VAW - Volatility Comparison
GraniteShares Gold Shares (BAR) has a higher volatility of 5.38% compared to Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) at 3.74%. This indicates that BAR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VAW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.