DVY vs. IAU
DVY (iShares Select Dividend ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - DVY is a Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, DVY returned 10.66%/yr vs 11.45%/yr for IAU. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. DVY charges 0.39%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
DVY vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DVY achieves a 12.97% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -6.73% return. Over the past 10 years, DVY has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 10.66%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 11.45% annualized return.
DVY
- 1D
- 0.72%
- 1M
- 1.93%
- YTD
- 12.97%
- 6M
- 11.84%
- 1Y
- 24.49%
- 3Y*
- 16.32%
- 5Y*
- 9.79%
- 10Y*
- 10.66%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.96%
- 1M
- -10.73%
- YTD
- -6.73%
- 6M
- -10.23%
- 1Y
- 20.46%
- 3Y*
- 27.63%
- 5Y*
- 17.45%
- 10Y*
- 11.45%
DVY vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DVY iShares Select Dividend ETF | 12.97% | 11.60% | 16.24% | 1.12% | 1.80% | 31.70% | -4.91% | 22.62% | -6.36% | 14.82% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -6.73% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between DVY and IAU is 0.16, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.06 |
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
DVY vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
DVY
IAU
DVY vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Select Dividend ETF (DVY) 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.
| DVY | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.10 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.16 | +0.22 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.57 | 0.79 | +2.78 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.47 | 2.19 | +10.28 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
DVY vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DVY drawdown since its inception was -62.59%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DVY and IAU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| DVY | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.59% | -45.14% | -17.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.89% | -26.17% | +19.28% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.00% | -26.17% | +10.17% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.54% | -26.17% | +8.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.59% | -26.17% | -15.42% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.38% | -25.46% | +25.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.77% | -15.98% | +7.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.97% | 9.35% | -7.38% |
Volatility
DVY vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Select Dividend ETF (DVY) is 3.36%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 8.63%. This indicates that DVY 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
| DVY | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.36% | 8.63% | -5.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.80% | 24.32% | -16.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.25% | 27.52% | -16.27% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.14% | 18.24% | -3.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.01% | 16.01% | +2.00% |
DVY vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
DVY has a 0.39% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
DVY vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
DVY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.35%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DVY iShares Select Dividend ETF | 3.35% | 3.65% | 3.65% | 3.82% | 3.43% | 3.12% | 3.66% | 3.41% | 3.58% | 3.00% | 3.04% | 3.45% |
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
DVY and IAU have a correlation of 0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (8.63%) compared to DVY (3.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DVY dropped -62.59% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 11.45% vs 10.66% for DVY. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, DVY has been the lower-risk option at 3.36%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IAU has performed better with a 11.45% return vs 10.66%. 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 0.39% for DVY.
DVY has the higher dividend yield at 3.35%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
DVY is categorized as Large Cap Value Equities, while IAU is Gold. DVY tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.39% for DVY and 0.25% for IAU.
DVY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.20 vs 0.75), 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 DVY 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