GDXJ vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
GDXJ and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GDXJ is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index. It was launched on Nov 10, 2009. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. Both GDXJ 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: GDXJ or IAU.
Key characteristics
| GDXJ | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 23.63% | 26.85% |
| 1Y Return | 43.68% | 35.13% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 0.25% | 11.79% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 5.91% | 12.21% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 7.26% | 8.01% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.14 | 2.28 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.70 | 3.03 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.20 | 1.40 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.54 | 4.93 |
| Martin Ratio | 4.92 | 15.09 |
| Ulcer Index | 8.37% | 2.23% |
| Daily Std Dev | 36.19% | 14.72% |
| Max Drawdown | -88.66% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -65.35% | -5.96% |
Correlation
The correlation between GDXJ and IAU is 0.75, 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
GDXJ vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, GDXJ achieves a 23.63% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 26.85% return. Over the past 10 years, GDXJ has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 7.26%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 8.01% 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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GDXJ vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
GDXJ has a 0.54% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GDXJ vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) 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
GDXJ vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
GDXJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.58%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDXJ VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF | 0.58% | 0.72% | 0.51% | 1.78% | 1.58% | 0.39% | 0.45% | 0.03% | 4.78% | 0.72% | 0.74% |
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% |
Drawdowns
GDXJ vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GDXJ drawdown since its inception was -88.66%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GDXJ and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GDXJ vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) has a higher volatility of 10.68% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 5.38%. This indicates that GDXJ'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.