FXF vs. IAU
FXF (Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - FXF is a Currency fund tracking the Swiss Franc, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, FXF returned 1.16%/yr vs 11.43%/yr for IAU. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. FXF charges 0.40%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
FXF vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FXF achieves a -2.51% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -7.17% return. Over the past 10 years, FXF has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 1.16%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 11.43% annualized return.
FXF
- 1D
- -0.36%
- 1M
- -0.69%
- 6M
- -1.20%
- YTD
- -2.51%
- 1Y
- -1.57%
- 3Y*
- 1.94%
- 5Y*
- 1.98%
- 10Y*
- 1.16%
- ALL TIME*
- 1.66%
IAU
- 1D
- -0.20%
- 1M
- -5.02%
- 6M
- -12.66%
- YTD
- -7.17%
- 1Y
- 19.36%
- 3Y*
- 26.56%
- 5Y*
- 17.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.43%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.67%
FXF vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FXF Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust | -2.51% | 14.04% | -7.46% | 9.63% | -2.29% | -4.08% | 8.18% | 0.32% | -2.01% | 3.31% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -7.17% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between FXF and IAU is 0.46, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2006 | 0.43 |
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Return for Risk
FXF vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
FXF
IAU
FXF vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust (FXF) 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.
| FXF | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.91 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.30 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.97 | 1.15 | -0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.24 | 0.74 | -0.97 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.55 | 1.72 | -2.27 |
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Drawdowns
FXF vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FXF drawdown since its inception was -35.58%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FXF and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FXF | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.58% | -45.14% | +9.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.72% | -26.36% | +19.64% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.52% | -26.36% | +17.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.99% | -26.36% | +14.37% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.04% | -26.36% | +11.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -20.42% | -25.81% | +5.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.83% | -16.00% | -4.83% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.88% | 11.25% | -8.37% |
Volatility
FXF vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust (FXF) is 1.86%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 6.34%. This indicates that FXF 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
| FXF | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.86% | 6.34% | -4.48% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.76% | 24.03% | -18.27% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.44% | 27.86% | -20.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.32% | 18.36% | -10.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.57% | 16.05% | -8.48% |
FXF vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
FXF has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
FXF vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither FXF nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FXF Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FXF and IAU have a correlation of 0.46, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (6.34%) compared to FXF (1.86%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FXF dropped -35.58% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 11.43% vs 1.16% for FXF. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, FXF has been the lower-risk option at 1.86%. 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 11.43% return vs 1.16%. 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 0.40% for FXF.
FXF and IAU have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
FXF is categorized as Currency, while IAU is Gold. FXF tracks Swiss Franc, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: Invesco and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.40% for FXF and 0.25% for IAU.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.70 vs -0.21), 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.
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