GDX vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
GDX and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GDX is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. It was launched on May 22, 2006. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. Both GDX 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.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: GDX or IAU.
Key characteristics
| GDX | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 10.19% | 12.12% |
| 1Y Return | -1.78% | 14.29% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -1.34% | 7.90% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 12.26% | 12.33% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 4.70% | 5.81% |
| Sharpe Ratio | -0.06 | 1.18 |
| Daily Std Dev | 30.44% | 12.20% |
| Max Drawdown | -80.57% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -42.38% | -3.14% |
Correlation
The correlation between GDX and IAU is 0.76, 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.
Performance
GDX vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, GDX achieves a 10.19% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 12.12% return. Over the past 10 years, GDX has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 4.70%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 5.81% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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GDX vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
GDX has a 0.53% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GDX vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) 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.
Dividends
GDX vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
GDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.46%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDX VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF | 1.46% | 1.61% | 1.66% | 1.67% | 0.53% | 0.65% | 0.50% | 0.76% | 0.26% | 0.85% | 0.66% | 0.90% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
GDX vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GDX drawdown since its inception was -80.57%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GDX and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GDX vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) has a higher volatility of 9.61% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 4.95%. This indicates that GDX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.