GDXU vs. IAUM
Compare and contrast key facts about MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN (GDXU) and iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM).
GDXU and IAUM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GDXU is a passively managed fund by BMO that tracks the performance of the S-Network MicroSectors Gold Miners Index. It was launched on Dec 2, 2020. IAUM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price. It was launched on Jun 15, 2021. Both GDXU and IAUM 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
GDXU vs. IAUM - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
GDXU vs. IAUM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDXU MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN | -6.09% | 796.47% | -18.60% | -21.36% | -62.82% | -25.99% |
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro | 10.49% | 64.27% | 27.04% | 13.12% | -0.49% | 3.87% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GDXU achieves a -6.09% return, which is significantly lower than IAUM's 10.49% return.
GDXU
- 1D
- 13.62%
- 1M
- -51.51%
- YTD
- -6.09%
- 6M
- 8.92%
- 1Y
- 287.76%
- 3Y*
- 63.33%
- 5Y*
- 6.19%
- 10Y*
- —
IAUM
- 1D
- 1.71%
- 1M
- -10.65%
- YTD
- 10.49%
- 6M
- 23.22%
- 1Y
- 52.68%
- 3Y*
- 34.12%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
GDXU vs. IAUM - Expense Ratio Comparison
GDXU has a 0.95% expense ratio, which is higher than IAUM's 0.09% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
GDXU vs. IAUM — Risk / Return Rank
GDXU
IAUM
GDXU vs. IAUM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN (GDXU) and iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM). 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.
| GDXU | IAUM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.07 | 1.92 | +0.14 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.39 | 2.35 | +0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.35 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.87 | 2.74 | +1.13 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.85 | 10.02 | +0.83 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GDXU | IAUM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.07 | 1.92 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.06 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.01 | 1.31 | -1.32 |
Correlation
The correlation between GDXU and IAUM is 0.78, 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.
Dividends
GDXU vs. IAUM - Dividend Comparison
Neither GDXU nor IAUM has paid dividends to shareholders.
Drawdowns
GDXU vs. IAUM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GDXU drawdown since its inception was -94.39%, which is greater than IAUM's maximum drawdown of -20.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GDXU and IAUM.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| GDXU | IAUM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -94.39% | -20.87% | -73.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -73.16% | -19.15% | -54.01% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -93.34% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -56.42% | -11.69% | -44.73% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -69.97% | -4.99% | -64.98% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 26.08% | 5.23% | +20.85% |
Volatility
GDXU vs. IAUM - Volatility Comparison
MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN (GDXU) has a higher volatility of 53.09% compared to iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) at 10.38%. This indicates that GDXU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IAUM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| GDXU | IAUM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 53.09% | 10.38% | +42.71% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 122.23% | 24.00% | +98.23% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 140.32% | 27.53% | +112.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 109.02% | 17.79% | +91.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 109.02% | 17.79% | +91.23% |