EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X

Last updated Apr 3, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Physical Gold ETC (EGLN.L) and Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X).

EGLN.L is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price. It was launched on Apr 8, 2011.

Performance

EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a €10,000 investment in iShares Physical Gold ETC (EGLN.L) and Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
EGLN.L iShares Physical Gold ETC	10.25%	46.01%	34.32%	9.37%	6.00%	3.85%	13.68%	20.62%	3.36%	-1.73%
XAUUSD=X Gold Spot Price US Dollar	11.77%	45.20%	35.64%	9.74%	5.94%	3.72%	14.29%	21.46%	2.90%	-0.76%

Different Trading Currencies

EGLN.L is traded in EUR, while XAUUSD=X is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the XAUUSD=X values have been converted to EUR using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, EGLN.L achieves a 10.25% return, which is significantly lower than XAUUSD=X's 11.77% return.

EGLN.L

• 1D: -1.76%
• 1M: -8.41%
• YTD: 10.25%
• 6M: 23.44%
• 1Y: 40.37%
• 3Y*: 30.18%
• 5Y*: 22.32%
• 10Y*: —

XAUUSD=X

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: -6.14%
• YTD: 11.77%
• 6M: 25.00%
• 1Y: 42.11%
• 3Y*: 31.22%
• 5Y*: 22.76%
• 10Y*: 14.45%

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

Return for Risk

EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X — Risk / Return Rank

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

EGLN.L

EGLN.L Risk / Return Rank: 80
EGLN.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
EGLN.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 78
EGLN.L Omega Ratio Rank: 79
EGLN.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
EGLN.L Martin Ratio Rank: 79

XAUUSD=X

XAUUSD=X Risk / Return Rank: 89
XAUUSD=X Sharpe Ratio Rank: 93
XAUUSD=X Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
XAUUSD=X Omega Ratio Rank: 91
XAUUSD=X Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
XAUUSD=X Martin Ratio Rank: 87

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.

EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Physical Gold ETC (EGLN.L) and Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X). 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.

	EGLN.L	XAUUSD=X	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.65	1.50	+0.15
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.13	1.96	+0.18
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	1.30	+0.02
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.63	2.37	+0.27
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	9.85	8.04	+1.81
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EGLN.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.65, which is comparable to the XAUUSD=X Sharpe Ratio of 1.50. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EGLN.L and XAUUSD=X, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	EGLN.L	XAUUSD=X	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.65	1.50	+0.15
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.39	1.34	+0.06
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.96	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.01	0.70	+0.31

Correlation

The correlation between EGLN.L and XAUUSD=X is 0.77, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Drawdowns

EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EGLN.L drawdown since its inception was -18.35%, smaller than the maximum XAUUSD=X drawdown of -37.10%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EGLN.L and XAUUSD=X.

Drawdown Indicators

	EGLN.L	XAUUSD=X	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.35%	-44.69%	+26.34%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-16.70%	-19.70%	+3.00%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.70%	-20.81%	+4.11%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-21.35%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-10.82%	-13.69%	+2.87%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.24%	-16.32%	+10.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.46%	5.67%	-1.21%

Volatility

EGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Volatility Comparison

iShares Physical Gold ETC (EGLN.L) has a higher volatility of 11.22% compared to Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X) at 9.34%. This indicates that EGLN.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XAUUSD=X based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	EGLN.L	XAUUSD=X	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.22%	9.34%	+1.88%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	21.27%	20.13%	+1.14%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	24.34%	21.92%	+2.42%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.99%	15.26%	+0.73%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.33%	14.06%	+0.27%