FALN vs. BAR
FALN (iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF) and BAR (GraniteShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - FALN is a High Yield Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg US High Yield Fallen Angel 3% Capped Index, while BAR is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FALN returned 3.74%/yr vs 18.08%/yr for BAR. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. FALN charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for BAR.
Performance
FALN vs. BAR - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FALN achieves a 2.24% return, which is significantly higher than BAR's -4.82% return.
FALN
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 1.07%
- YTD
- 2.24%
- 6M
- 2.42%
- 1Y
- 7.88%
- 3Y*
- 9.39%
- 5Y*
- 3.74%
- 10Y*
- 6.60%
BAR
- 1D
- -1.94%
- 1M
- -8.92%
- YTD
- -4.82%
- 6M
- -8.73%
- 1Y
- 21.40%
- 3Y*
- 28.63%
- 5Y*
- 18.08%
- 10Y*
- —
FALN vs. BAR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FALN iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF | 2.24% | 8.92% | 7.68% | 13.47% | -13.79% | 5.40% | 14.85% | 17.42% | -4.97% | 2.01% |
BAR GraniteShares Gold Trust | -4.82% | 64.12% | 26.97% | 12.96% | -0.55% | -3.92% | 25.02% | 18.16% | -1.87% | -0.79% |
Correlation
The correlation between FALN and BAR is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 31, 2017 | 0.20 |
The correlation between FALN and BAR shifts across timeframes, from 0.20 (all time) to 0.30 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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
FALN vs. BAR — Risk / Return Rank
FALN
BAR
FALN vs. BAR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (FALN) and GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR). 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.
| FALN | BAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.94 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.37 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.17 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.00 | 0.88 | +1.12 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.32 | 2.37 | +5.96 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
FALN vs. BAR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FALN drawdown since its inception was -29.22%, which is greater than BAR's maximum drawdown of -24.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FALN and BAR.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| FALN | BAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -29.22% | -24.38% | -4.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.96% | -24.38% | +20.42% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.92% | -24.38% | +18.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.78% | -24.38% | +5.60% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.22% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.11% | -23.93% | +23.82% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.31% | -6.53% | +3.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.95% | 9.07% | -8.12% |
Volatility
FALN vs. BAR - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (FALN) is 1.18%, while GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR) has a volatility of 8.11%. This indicates that FALN experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BAR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| FALN | BAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.18% | 8.11% | -6.93% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.72% | 24.24% | -20.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.60% | 27.39% | -22.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.33% | 18.14% | -10.81% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.92% | 16.54% | -7.62% |
FALN vs. BAR - Expense Ratio Comparison
FALN has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than BAR's 0.17% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
FALN vs. BAR - Dividend Comparison
FALN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.42%, while BAR has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAR GraniteShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
FALN iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF | 6.42% | 6.31% | 6.24% | 5.37% | 5.08% | 3.40% | 5.14% | 5.35% | 5.97% | 6.98% | 3.55% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FALN and BAR have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BAR has higher volatility (8.11%) compared to FALN (1.18%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FALN dropped -29.22% vs BAR's -24.38%.
On 5-year performance, BAR leads with 18.08% vs 3.74% for FALN. On fees, BAR is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, FALN has been the lower-risk option at 1.18%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BAR has performed better with a 18.08% return vs 3.74%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BAR is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for FALN.
FALN has the higher dividend yield at 6.42%, compared with 0.00% for BAR.
FALN is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while BAR is Gold. FALN tracks Bloomberg US High Yield Fallen Angel 3% Capped Index, while BAR tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). They also come from different issuers: iShares and GraniteShares. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for FALN and 0.17% for BAR.
FALN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.72 vs 0.78), 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 FALN and BAR
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