GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L
GLDW.L (WisdomTree Core Physical Gold) and XGLD.L (Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC) are both Gold funds tracking the Gold, from WisdomTree and Xtrackers respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, GLDW.L returned 17.81%/yr vs 17.55%/yr for XGLD.L. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. GLDW.L charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for XGLD.L.
Performance
GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
GLDW.L is traded in GBp, while XGLD.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the XGLD.L values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with GLDW.L having a -6.33% return and XGLD.L slightly lower at -6.50%.
GLDW.L
- 1D
- -1.59%
- 1M
- -7.44%
- 6M
- -12.74%
- YTD
- -6.33%
- 1Y
- 20.52%
- 3Y*
- 26.03%
- 5Y*
- 17.81%
- 10Y*
- —
XGLD.L
- 1D
- -1.91%
- 1M
- -7.85%
- 6M
- -13.05%
- YTD
- -6.50%
- 1Y
- 19.84%
- 3Y*
- 25.67%
- 5Y*
- 17.55%
- 10Y*
- 11.20%
GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLDW.L WisdomTree Core Physical Gold | -6.33% | 53.57% | 28.18% | 7.26% | 11.82% | 7,024.45% | 7.28% |
XGLD.L Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC | -6.50% | 52.88% | 28.07% | 7.70% | 11.62% | -3.28% | 3.21% |
Correlation
The correlation between GLDW.L and XGLD.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 | 0.96 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 30, 2020 | 0.92 |
The correlation between GLDW.L and XGLD.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. XGLD.L — Risk / Return Rank
GLDW.L
XGLD.L
GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for WisdomTree Core Physical Gold (GLDW.L) and Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC (XGLD.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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| GLDW.L | XGLD.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 | 1.17 | 1.16 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.84 | 0.80 | +0.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.08 | 2.00 | +0.08 |
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Drawdowns
GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GLDW.L drawdown since its inception was -24.25%, smaller than the maximum XGLD.L drawdown of -41.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GLDW.L and XGLD.L.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GLDW.L | XGLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -24.25% | -41.70% | +17.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.25% | -24.60% | +0.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.25% | -24.60% | +0.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.25% | -24.60% | +0.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -24.60% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.25% | -24.60% | +0.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.30% | -14.31% | +9.01% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.83% | 9.91% | -0.08% |
Volatility
GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for WisdomTree Core Physical Gold (GLDW.L) is 6.79%, while Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC (XGLD.L) has a volatility of 7.31%. This indicates that GLDW.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XGLD.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 | XGLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.79% | 7.31% | -0.52% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.97% | 22.55% | -1.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.26% | 25.62% | -1.36% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.88% | 17.12% | +4.76% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2,990.38% | 15.75% | +2,974.63% |
GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
GLDW.L has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is lower than XGLD.L's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
GLDW.L vs. XGLD.L - Dividend Comparison
Neither GLDW.L nor XGLD.L has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, GLDW.L and XGLD.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.
On fees, GLDW.L is cheaper at 0.12% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
GLDW.L is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for XGLD.L.
Both ETFs track Gold. They also come from different issuers: WisdomTree and Xtrackers. Their fees differ too: 0.12% for GLDW.L and 0.25% for XGLD.L.
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