GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L
GLDW.L (WisdomTree Core Physical Gold) and XGDU.L (Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities) are both Precious Metals funds tracking the Gold, from WisdomTree and Xtrackers respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, GLDW.L returned 19.87%/yr vs 19.89%/yr for XGDU.L. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.12% expense ratio.
Performance
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
GLDW.L is traded in GBp, while XGDU.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the XGDU.L values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GLDW.L achieves a 3.96% return, which is significantly lower than XGDU.L's 4.19% return.
GLDW.L
- 1D
- 0.63%
- 1M
- -1.34%
- YTD
- 3.96%
- 6M
- 5.38%
- 1Y
- 33.68%
- 3Y*
- 28.15%
- 5Y*
- 19.87%
- 10Y*
- —
XGDU.L
- 1D
- 0.58%
- 1M
- -1.49%
- YTD
- 4.19%
- 6M
- 5.25%
- 1Y
- 33.63%
- 3Y*
- 28.24%
- 5Y*
- 19.89%
- 10Y*
- —
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLDW.L WisdomTree Core Physical Gold | 3.96% | 53.57% | 28.18% | 7.26% | 11.82% | 9.07% |
XGDU.L Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities | 4.19% | 52.97% | 28.40% | 7.78% | 11.98% | 7.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between GLDW.L and XGDU.L is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 16, 2021 | 0.92 |
The correlation between GLDW.L and XGDU.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L — Risk / Return Rank
GLDW.L
XGDU.L
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for WisdomTree Core Physical Gold (GLDW.L) and Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities (XGDU.L). 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.
| GLDW.L | XGDU.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.07 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.28 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 1.90 | -0.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.05 | 5.03 | +0.02 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GLDW.L | XGDU.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.46 | 1.39 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.23 | 1.19 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.30 | 0.94 | +0.36 |
Drawdowns
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GLDW.L drawdown since its inception was -17.86%, smaller than the maximum XGDU.L drawdown of -22.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GLDW.L and XGDU.L.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GLDW.L | XGDU.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.86% | -22.90% | +5.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.86% | -17.64% | -0.22% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.86% | -17.64% | -0.22% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.86% | -17.64% | -0.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -15.93% | -15.91% | -0.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.58% | -6.61% | +3.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.65% | 6.67% | -0.02% |
Volatility
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for WisdomTree Core Physical Gold (GLDW.L) is 5.09%, while Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities (XGDU.L) has a volatility of 5.97%. This indicates that GLDW.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XGDU.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| GLDW.L | XGDU.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.09% | 5.97% | -0.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.81% | 21.20% | -1.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.95% | 24.12% | -1.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.09% | 16.76% | -0.67% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.94% | 16.83% | -0.89% |
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both GLDW.L and XGDU.L have an expense ratio of 0.12%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
GLDW.L vs. XGDU.L - Dividend Comparison
Neither GLDW.L nor XGDU.L has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, GLDW.L and XGDU.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
Both ETFs have the same 0.12% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
GLDW.L and XGDU.L have the same expense ratio: 0.12% per year.
Both ETFs track Gold. They also come from different issuers: WisdomTree and Xtrackers.
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