BRK-B vs. IAU
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.14%/yr vs 12.71%/yr for IAU. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
BRK-B vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -3.11% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 0.26% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with BRK-B having a 13.14% annualized return and IAU not far behind at 12.71%.
BRK-B
- 1D
- -0.23%
- 1M
- 2.32%
- YTD
- -3.11%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- -1.32%
- 3Y*
- 13.25%
- 5Y*
- 11.03%
- 10Y*
- 13.14%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -8.43%
- YTD
- 0.26%
- 6M
- 3.08%
- 1Y
- 30.27%
- 3Y*
- 29.88%
- 5Y*
- 17.71%
- 10Y*
- 12.71%
BRK-B vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -3.11% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.26% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and IAU is -0.04, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.00 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | -0.01 |
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Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
IAU
BRK-B vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) 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.
| BRK-B | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.23 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.23 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.14 | 1.52 | -1.66 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.30 | 3.80 | -4.10 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BRK-B | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.09 | 1.14 | -1.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.99 | -0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | 0.80 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.61 | -0.13 |
Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -45.14% | -8.72% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -20.04% | +10.62% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -20.04% | +5.09% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -20.93% | -5.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -21.82% | -7.75% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.78% | -19.88% | +10.10% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -15.97% | +4.90% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.49% | 7.99% | -3.50% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 3.98%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.64%. This indicates that BRK-B 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
| BRK-B | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.98% | 5.64% | -1.66% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.87% | 23.33% | -12.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 26.68% | -12.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.13% | 18.02% | -0.89% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 15.94% | +3.50% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither BRK-B nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and IAU have a correlation of -0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (5.64%) compared to BRK-B (3.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs IAU's -45.14%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.14 vs -0.09), 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.
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