BELT vs. IAU
BELT (iShares U.S. Select Equity Active ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - BELT is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by iShares, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. BELT is actively managed, while IAU is passively managed. Over the past year, BELT returned 29.76% vs 21.45% for IAU. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BELT charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
BELT vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BELT achieves a 19.28% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -4.73% return.
BELT
- 1D
- -0.46%
- 1M
- 2.34%
- YTD
- 19.28%
- 6M
- 18.72%
- 1Y
- 29.76%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IAU
- 1D
- -1.87%
- 1M
- -8.82%
- YTD
- -4.73%
- 6M
- -8.68%
- 1Y
- 21.45%
- 3Y*
- 28.61%
- 5Y*
- 18.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.76%
BELT vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
BELT iShares U.S. Select Equity Active ETF | 19.28% | 12.42% | -1.87% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -4.73% | 63.95% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between BELT and IAU is 0.22, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 18, 2024 | 0.13 |
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Return for Risk
BELT vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
BELT
IAU
BELT vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Select Equity Active ETF (BELT) 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.
| BELT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.89 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.17 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.61 | 0.88 | +1.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.07 | 2.37 | +7.70 |
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Drawdowns
BELT vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BELT drawdown since its inception was -23.05%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BELT and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BELT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.05% | -45.14% | +22.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.47% | -24.40% | +12.93% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -24.40% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -24.40% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -24.40% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.46% | -23.87% | +23.41% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.49% | -15.97% | +12.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.96% | 9.07% | -6.11% |
Volatility
BELT vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Select Equity Active ETF (BELT) is 6.34%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 8.10%. This indicates that BELT 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.
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Volatility by Period
| BELT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.34% | 8.10% | -1.76% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.71% | 24.23% | -9.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.90% | 27.38% | -9.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.38% | 18.18% | +3.20% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.38% | 15.98% | +5.40% |
BELT vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
BELT has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
BELT vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
BELT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.02%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM |
|---|---|
BELT iShares U.S. Select Equity Active ETF | 0.02% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BELT and IAU have a correlation of 0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (8.10%) compared to BELT (6.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BELT dropped -23.05% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 1-year performance, BELT leads with 29.76% vs 21.45% for IAU. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, BELT has been the lower-risk option at 6.34%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, BELT has performed better with a 29.76% return vs 21.45%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for BELT.
BELT has the higher dividend yield at 0.02%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
BELT is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while IAU is Gold. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for BELT and 0.25% for IAU.
BELT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.67 vs 0.79), 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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