GOAU vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (GOAU) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
GOAU and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GOAU is a passively managed fund by US Global Investors that tracks the performance of the U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners Index. It was launched on Jun 27, 2017. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. Both GOAU 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: GOAU or IAU.
Key characteristics
| GOAU | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 30.83% | 30.82% |
| 1Y Return | 47.22% | 38.37% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 7.20% | 13.78% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 8.80% | 12.98% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.43 | 2.54 |
| Sortino Ratio | 2.02 | 3.36 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.24 | 1.44 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.02 | 5.42 |
| Martin Ratio | 6.40 | 16.92 |
| Ulcer Index | 6.89% | 2.19% |
| Daily Std Dev | 30.82% | 14.55% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.41% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -10.85% | -3.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between GOAU and IAU is 0.74, 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
GOAU vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with GOAU having a 30.83% return and IAU slightly lower at 30.82%. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
GOAU vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
GOAU has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GOAU vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (GOAU) 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
GOAU vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
GOAU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.76%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GOAU US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF | 0.76% | 0.99% | 1.55% | 1.28% | 0.74% | 0.16% | 0.47% | 0.13% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
GOAU vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GOAU drawdown since its inception was -55.41%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GOAU and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GOAU vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (GOAU) has a higher volatility of 8.87% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 4.87%. This indicates that GOAU'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.