FLMX vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF (FLMX) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
FLMX and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FLMX is a passively managed fund by Franklin Templeton that tracks the performance of the FTSE Mexico RIC Capped Index. It was launched on Nov 3, 2017. 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 FLMX 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
FLMX vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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FLMX vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLMX Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF | 8.47% | 53.62% | -28.45% | 39.35% | 2.40% | 19.58% | -3.50% | 12.13% | -13.32% | -0.92% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 8.61% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 1.62% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with FLMX having a 8.47% return and IAU slightly higher at 8.61%.
FLMX
- 1D
- 3.43%
- 1M
- -7.43%
- YTD
- 8.47%
- 6M
- 12.96%
- 1Y
- 53.09%
- 3Y*
- 11.54%
- 5Y*
- 14.25%
- 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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FLMX vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
FLMX has a 0.19% 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
FLMX vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
FLMX
IAU
FLMX vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF (FLMX) 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.
| FLMX | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.19 | 1.80 | +0.39 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.85 | 2.24 | +0.62 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.40 | 1.33 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.60 | 2.69 | +0.91 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.84 | 9.97 | +3.87 |
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
| FLMX | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.19 | 1.80 | +0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 1.24 | -0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.89 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.32 | 0.64 | -0.32 |
Correlation
The correlation between FLMX and IAU is 0.20, 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
FLMX vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
FLMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.68%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLMX Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF | 3.68% | 3.99% | 3.31% | 2.90% | 4.22% | 3.15% | 1.48% | 2.95% | 2.51% | 0.31% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
FLMX vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FLMX drawdown since its inception was -50.05%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FLMX and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FLMX | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.05% | -45.14% | -4.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.18% | -19.18% | +5.00% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.72% | -20.93% | -10.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -21.82% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.80% | -13.20% | +5.40% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.21% | -15.98% | +3.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.69% | 5.18% | -1.49% |
Volatility
FLMX vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF (FLMX) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU) have volatilities of 11.48% and 11.02%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FLMX | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.48% | 11.02% | +0.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.31% | 24.11% | -6.80% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.37% | 27.62% | -3.25% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.90% | 17.69% | +4.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.76% | 15.82% | +8.94% |