CMS vs. IAU
CMS (CMS Energy Corporation) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, CMS returned 8.55%/yr vs 12.31%/yr for IAU. At a 0.10 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CMS vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CMS achieves a 6.82% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -2.44% return. Over the past 10 years, CMS has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 8.55%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 12.31% annualized return.
CMS
- 1D
- 0.99%
- 1M
- 2.69%
- YTD
- 6.82%
- 6M
- 6.95%
- 1Y
- 7.49%
- 3Y*
- 10.50%
- 5Y*
- 7.32%
- 10Y*
- 8.55%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -7.39%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 22.32%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
CMS vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMS CMS Energy Corporation | 6.82% | 8.13% | 18.60% | -5.21% | 0.84% | 9.71% | -0.32% | 30.04% | 8.25% | 17.03% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -2.44% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between CMS and IAU is 0.12, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.10 |
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Return for Risk
CMS vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
CMS
IAU
CMS vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for CMS Energy Corporation (CMS) 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.
| CMS | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.54 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.08 | 1.19 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.62 | 0.99 | -0.37 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.61 | 2.83 | -1.23 |
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Drawdowns
CMS vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CMS drawdown since its inception was -91.20%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CMS and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CMS | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -91.20% | -45.14% | -46.06% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.48% | -24.40% | +12.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.61% | -24.40% | +4.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.56% | -24.40% | -3.16% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.55% | -24.40% | -5.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.25% | -22.03% | +14.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.34% | -15.97% | -11.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.42% | 8.47% | -4.05% |
Volatility
CMS vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for CMS Energy Corporation (CMS) is 7.02%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 7.70%. This indicates that CMS 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
| CMS | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.02% | 7.70% | -0.68% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.53% | 23.94% | -11.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.28% | 27.17% | -10.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.95% | 18.16% | +0.79% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.71% | 16.02% | +4.69% |
Dividends
CMS vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
CMS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.02%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMS CMS Energy Corporation | 3.02% | 3.10% | 3.09% | 3.36% | 3.62% | 2.67% | 2.67% | 2.43% | 2.88% | 2.81% | 2.98% | 3.22% |
IAU iShares Gold 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
CMS and IAU have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (7.70%) compared to CMS (7.02%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CMS dropped -91.20% vs IAU's -45.14%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs 0.44), 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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