GOOG vs. GLD
GOOG (Alphabet Inc) is a stock, while GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Over the past 10 years, GOOG returned 25.97%/yr vs 12.15%/yr for GLD. At a 0.04 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
GOOG vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GOOG achieves a 14.29% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's -2.47% return. Over the past 10 years, GOOG has outperformed GLD with an annualized return of 25.97%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively lower 12.15% annualized return.
GOOG
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- -10.19%
- YTD
- 14.29%
- 6M
- 15.49%
- 1Y
- 102.96%
- 3Y*
- 42.67%
- 5Y*
- 23.51%
- 10Y*
- 25.97%
GLD
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- -10.21%
- YTD
- -2.47%
- 6M
- -2.25%
- 1Y
- 23.81%
- 3Y*
- 28.89%
- 5Y*
- 17.08%
- 10Y*
- 12.15%
GOOG vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GOOG Alphabet Inc | 14.29% | 65.42% | 35.62% | 58.83% | -38.67% | 65.17% | 31.03% | 29.10% | -1.03% | 35.58% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | -2.47% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between GOOG and GLD is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 3, 2014 | 0.04 |
The correlation between GOOG and GLD shifts across timeframes, from 0.04 (all time) to 0.19 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
GOOG vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank
GOOG
GLD
GOOG vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Alphabet Inc (GOOG) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.
| GOOG | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.73 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.59 | 1.18 | +0.41 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.99 | 0.98 | +4.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 17.56 | 2.81 | +14.75 |
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Drawdowns
GOOG vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GOOG drawdown since its inception was -44.60%, roughly equal to the maximum GLD drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GOOG and GLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GOOG | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -44.60% | -45.56% | +0.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -20.75% | -24.46% | +3.71% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.35% | -24.46% | -4.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -44.60% | -24.46% | -20.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.60% | -24.46% | -20.14% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.19% | -22.05% | +11.86% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.89% | -16.16% | +7.27% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.88% | 8.49% | -2.61% |
Volatility
GOOG vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Alphabet Inc (GOOG) is 7.29%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 7.79%. This indicates that GOOG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| GOOG | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.29% | 7.79% | -0.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.47% | 24.10% | -3.63% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 28.75% | 27.37% | +1.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 31.15% | 18.22% | +12.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.02% | 16.08% | +12.94% |
Dividends
GOOG vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
GOOG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.24%, while GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
GOOG Alphabet Inc | 0.24% | 0.26% | 0.32% |
Frequently Asked Questions
GOOG and GLD have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GLD has higher volatility (7.79%) compared to GOOG (7.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GOOG dropped -44.60% vs GLD's -45.56%.
GOOG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.60 vs 0.87), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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