CWST vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

CWST (Casella Waste Systems, Inc.) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, CWST returned 27.47%/yr vs 12.71%/yr for IAU. At a 0.04 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

CWST vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CWST achieves a -13.64% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, CWST has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 27.47%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 12.71% annualized return.

CWST

• 1D: -1.54%
• 1M: -1.01%
• YTD: -13.64%
• 6M: -14.76%
• 1Y: -27.45%
• 3Y*: -2.94%
• 5Y*: 5.07%
• 10Y*: 27.47%

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%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CWST vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
CWST Casella Waste Systems, Inc.	-13.64%	-7.44%	23.81%	7.75%	-7.15%	37.89%	34.59%	61.57%	23.76%	85.50%
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 CWST and IAU is -0.03, 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	-0.03
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.09
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.08
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.04
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 31, 2005	0.04

The correlation between CWST and IAU shifts across timeframes, from -0.03 (1 year) to 0.09 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

CWST vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

CWST

CWST Risk / Return Rank: 11
CWST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9
CWST Sortino Ratio Rank: 10
CWST Omega Ratio Rank: 11
CWST Calmar Ratio Rank: 14
CWST Martin Ratio Rank: 12

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 33
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 38
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 34
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 29

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

CWST vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) 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.

	CWST	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.83	1.14	-1.97
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.12	1.52	-2.64
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.87	1.23	-0.36
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.75	1.52	-2.27
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.29	3.80	-5.09
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CWST vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CWST Sharpe Ratio is -0.83, which is lower than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.14. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CWST and IAU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	CWST	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.83	1.14	-1.97
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.19	0.99	-0.80
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.89	0.80	+0.09
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.09	0.61	-0.52

Drawdowns

CWST vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CWST drawdown since its inception was -98.52%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CWST and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	CWST	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-98.52%	-45.14%	-53.38%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-36.69%	-20.04%	-16.65%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-37.72%	-20.04%	-17.68%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-37.72%	-20.93%	-16.79%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-37.72%	-21.82%	-15.90%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-29.73%	-19.88%	-9.85%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-53.03%	-15.97%	-37.06%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	21.30%	7.99%	+13.31%

Volatility

CWST vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) has a higher volatility of 8.94% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 5.64%. This indicates that CWST's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CWST	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.94%	5.64%	+3.30%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	27.33%	23.33%	+4.00%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	33.24%	26.68%	+6.56%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	27.17%	18.02%	+9.15%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	30.88%	15.94%	+14.94%

Dividends

CWST vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

Neither CWST nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CWST and IAU in my portfolio?

CWST and IAU have a correlation of -0.03, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, CWST or IAU?

CWST has higher volatility (8.94%) compared to IAU (5.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CWST dropped -98.52% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.14 vs -0.83), 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.