GLD vs. SGOL
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) and Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL).
GLD and SGOL are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GLD is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Nov 18, 2004. SGOL is a passively managed fund by Abrdn Plc that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). It was launched on Sep 9, 2009. Both GLD and SGOL 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: GLD or SGOL.
Key characteristics
GLD | SGOL | |
---|---|---|
YTD Return | 6.24% | 6.18% |
1Y Return | 10.72% | 10.90% |
3Y Return (Ann) | 7.79% | 8.03% |
5Y Return (Ann) | 10.76% | 11.00% |
10Y Return (Ann) | 5.02% | 5.14% |
Sharpe Ratio | 0.99 | 1.01 |
Daily Std Dev | 11.80% | 11.71% |
Max Drawdown | -45.56% | -45.51% |
Current Drawdown | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between GLD and SGOL is 0.99, 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
GLD vs. SGOL - Performance Comparison
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with GLD having a 6.24% return and SGOL slightly lower at 6.18%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with GLD having a 5.02% annualized return and SGOL not far ahead at 5.14%. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
GLD vs. SGOL - Expense Ratio Comparison
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GLD vs. SGOL - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) and Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL). 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.
Sharpe ratio | Sortino ratio | Omega ratio | Calmar ratio | Ulcer Index | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPDR Gold Trust | 0.99 | ||||
Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF | 1.01 |
Dividends
GLD vs. SGOL - Dividend Comparison
Neither GLD nor SGOL has paid dividends to shareholders.
Drawdowns
GLD vs. SGOL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GLD drawdown since its inception was -45.56%, roughly equal to the maximum SGOL drawdown of -45.51%. The drawdown chart below compares losses from any high point along the way for GLD and SGOL
Volatility
GLD vs. SGOL - Volatility Comparison
SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) and Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) have volatilities of 3.31% and 3.32%, 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.