BGLD vs. IAU
BGLD (FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - BGLD is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by FT Vest, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. BGLD is actively managed, while IAU is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BGLD returned 11.20%/yr vs 18.32%/yr for IAU. Their correlation of 0.82 suggests significant overlap in exposure. BGLD charges 0.91%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
BGLD vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BGLD achieves a 0.32% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 2.98% return.
BGLD
- 1D
- -0.52%
- 1M
- 0.80%
- YTD
- 0.32%
- 6M
- 1.34%
- 1Y
- 12.93%
- 3Y*
- 19.37%
- 5Y*
- 11.20%
- 10Y*
- —
IAU
- 1D
- -0.98%
- 1M
- -1.62%
- YTD
- 2.98%
- 6M
- 5.50%
- 1Y
- 32.20%
- 3Y*
- 31.29%
- 5Y*
- 18.32%
- 10Y*
- 13.31%
BGLD vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGLD FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | 0.32% | 33.03% | 21.80% | 13.24% | -2.42% | -5.57% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 2.98% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -2.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between BGLD and IAU is 0.72, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 22, 2021 | 0.82 |
The correlation between BGLD and IAU shifts across timeframes, from 0.72 (1 year) to 0.82 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BGLD vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
BGLD
IAU
BGLD vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF (BGLD) 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.
| BGLD | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.13 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.11 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.24 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.17 | 1.69 | -0.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.72 | 4.19 | -0.47 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BGLD | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.09 | 1.23 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.13 | 1.03 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.84 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.05 | 0.62 | +0.43 |
Drawdowns
BGLD vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BGLD drawdown since its inception was -16.19%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BGLD and IAU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BGLD | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.19% | -45.14% | +28.95% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.11% | -19.18% | +8.07% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.11% | -19.18% | +8.07% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.52% | -20.93% | +5.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -21.82% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.22% | -17.70% | +10.48% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.64% | -15.96% | +12.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.49% | 7.71% | -4.22% |
Volatility
BGLD vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF (BGLD) is 2.20%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.50%. This indicates that BGLD 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BGLD | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.20% | 5.50% | -3.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.04% | 23.02% | -12.98% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.90% | 26.42% | -14.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 9.97% | 17.95% | -7.98% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 9.89% | 15.90% | -6.01% |
BGLD vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
BGLD has a 0.91% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
BGLD vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
BGLD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 44.18%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGLD FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | 44.18% | 44.32% | 25.04% | 10.49% | 0.40% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BGLD and IAU have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to BGLD (2.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BGLD dropped -16.19% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 5-year performance, IAU leads with 18.32% vs 11.20% for BGLD. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, BGLD has been the lower-risk option at 2.20%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IAU has performed better with a 18.32% return vs 11.20%. 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 0.91% for BGLD.
BGLD has the higher dividend yield at 44.18%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
BGLD is categorized as Defined Outcome, while IAU is Gold. They also come from different issuers: FT Vest and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.91% for BGLD and 0.25% for IAU.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.23 vs 1.09), 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.
Find the right allocation for BGLD and IAU
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer