CMBS vs. GLDM
CMBS (iShares CMBS ETF) and GLDM (SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - CMBS is a Mortgage Backed Securities fund tracking the Barclays Capital U.S. CMBS (ERISA Only) Index, while GLDM is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, CMBS returned 0.70%/yr vs 17.41%/yr for GLDM. At a 0.23 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. CMBS charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for GLDM.
Performance
CMBS vs. GLDM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CMBS achieves a 0.25% return, which is significantly higher than GLDM's -2.40% return.
CMBS
- 1D
- -0.23%
- 1M
- 0.07%
- YTD
- 0.25%
- 6M
- 0.56%
- 1Y
- 4.12%
- 3Y*
- 5.34%
- 5Y*
- 0.70%
- 10Y*
- 2.00%
GLDM
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- -9.52%
- YTD
- -2.40%
- 6M
- -2.09%
- 1Y
- 22.58%
- 3Y*
- 29.27%
- 5Y*
- 17.41%
- 10Y*
- —
CMBS vs. GLDM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMBS iShares CMBS ETF | 0.25% | 7.67% | 4.27% | 5.06% | -11.21% | -1.82% | 7.86% | 7.94% | 2.63% |
GLDM SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | -2.40% | 64.20% | 27.08% | 13.04% | -0.47% | -4.01% | 25.10% | 18.10% | 1.75% |
Correlation
The correlation between CMBS and GLDM 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 | 0.09 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2018 | 0.23 |
The correlation between CMBS and GLDM shifts across timeframes, from 0.04 (1 year) to 0.23 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
CMBS vs. GLDM — Risk / Return Rank
CMBS
GLDM
CMBS vs. GLDM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM). 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.
| CMBS | GLDM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.22 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.47 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.19 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.67 | 1.00 | +0.67 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.46 | 2.87 | +1.59 |
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Drawdowns
CMBS vs. GLDM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CMBS drawdown since its inception was -15.87%, smaller than the maximum GLDM drawdown of -24.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CMBS and GLDM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CMBS | GLDM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.87% | -24.35% | +8.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.44% | -24.35% | +21.91% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.29% | -24.35% | +21.06% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.87% | -24.35% | +8.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.87% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.67% | -21.96% | +20.29% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.95% | -6.27% | +3.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.91% | 8.44% | -7.53% |
Volatility
CMBS vs. GLDM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) is 1.10%, while SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) has a volatility of 7.73%. This indicates that CMBS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLDM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CMBS | GLDM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.10% | 7.73% | -6.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.81% | 23.93% | -21.12% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.64% | 27.15% | -23.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.31% | 18.13% | -12.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.77% | 16.98% | -11.21% |
CMBS vs. GLDM - Expense Ratio Comparison
CMBS has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than GLDM'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%.
Dividends
CMBS vs. GLDM - Dividend Comparison
CMBS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.58%, while GLDM has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMBS iShares CMBS ETF | 3.58% | 3.45% | 3.31% | 2.97% | 2.65% | 2.46% | 2.83% | 2.74% | 2.70% | 2.50% | 2.29% | 2.31% |
GLDM SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
CMBS and GLDM 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.
GLDM has higher volatility (7.73%) compared to CMBS (1.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CMBS dropped -15.87% vs GLDM's -24.35%.
On 5-year performance, GLDM leads with 17.41% vs 0.70% for CMBS. On fees, GLDM is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, CMBS has been the lower-risk option at 1.10%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, GLDM has performed better with a 17.41% return vs 0.70%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GLDM is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for CMBS.
CMBS has the higher dividend yield at 3.58%, compared with 0.00% for GLDM.
CMBS is categorized as Mortgage Backed Securities, while GLDM is Gold. CMBS tracks Barclays Capital U.S. CMBS (ERISA Only) Index, while GLDM tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for CMBS and 0.10% for GLDM.
CMBS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.12 vs 0.90), 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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