ESML vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
ESML and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ESML is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA Small Cap Extended ESG Focus Index. It was launched on Apr 10, 2018. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price. It was launched on Jan 21, 2005. Both ESML and IAU are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
ESML vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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ESML vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESML iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF | 2.51% | 10.62% | 12.01% | 17.27% | -17.28% | 19.28% | 19.56% | 29.12% | -10.89% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 8.61% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -4.13% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ESML achieves a 2.51% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 8.61% return.
ESML
- 1D
- 3.11%
- 1M
- -5.16%
- YTD
- 2.51%
- 6M
- 4.85%
- 1Y
- 23.82%
- 3Y*
- 12.82%
- 5Y*
- 5.04%
- 10Y*
- —
IAU
- 1D
- 3.80%
- 1M
- -11.01%
- YTD
- 8.61%
- 6M
- 21.15%
- 1Y
- 49.53%
- 3Y*
- 33.12%
- 5Y*
- 21.78%
- 10Y*
- 14.08%
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ESML vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
ESML has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
ESML vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
ESML
IAU
ESML vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) 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.
| ESML | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.08 | 1.80 | -0.72 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.63 | 2.24 | -0.61 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.33 | -0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.60 | 2.69 | -1.09 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.95 | 9.97 | -3.01 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ESML | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.08 | 1.80 | -0.72 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.24 | 1.24 | -1.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.89 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.64 | -0.25 |
Correlation
The correlation between ESML and IAU is 0.08, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
ESML vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
ESML's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.08%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESML iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF | 1.08% | 1.08% | 1.22% | 1.31% | 1.46% | 0.94% | 0.99% | 1.10% | 1.07% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
ESML vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ESML drawdown since its inception was -41.97%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESML and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ESML | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.97% | -45.14% | +3.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.71% | -19.18% | +4.47% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.61% | -20.93% | -7.68% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -21.82% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.20% | -13.20% | +7.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.14% | -15.98% | +6.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.39% | 5.18% | -1.79% |
Volatility
ESML vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) is 6.61%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 11.02%. This indicates that ESML 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
| ESML | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.61% | 11.02% | -4.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.81% | 24.11% | -11.30% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.19% | 27.62% | -5.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.28% | 17.69% | +3.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.55% | 15.82% | +7.73% |