GOVZ vs. NIKL
GOVZ (iShares 25+ Year Treasury STRIPS Bond ETF) and NIKL (Sprott Nickel Miners ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - GOVZ is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS Index, while NIKL is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Nasdaq Sprott Nickel Miners Index - Benchmark TR Gross. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, GOVZ returned -7.43%/yr vs -3.41%/yr for NIKL. At a 0.12 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. GOVZ charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for NIKL.
Performance
GOVZ vs. NIKL - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GOVZ achieves a -0.94% return, which is significantly higher than NIKL's -8.20% return.
GOVZ
- 1D
- -0.50%
- 1M
- 1.73%
- YTD
- -0.94%
- 6M
- -4.35%
- 1Y
- 3.91%
- 3Y*
- -7.43%
- 5Y*
- -11.53%
- 10Y*
- —
NIKL
- 1D
- -8.49%
- 1M
- -14.45%
- YTD
- -8.20%
- 6M
- 5.56%
- 1Y
- 32.72%
- 3Y*
- -3.41%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
GOVZ vs. NIKL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GOVZ iShares 25+ Year Treasury STRIPS Bond ETF | -0.94% | -1.81% | -16.24% | -8.07% |
NIKL Sprott Nickel Miners ETF | -8.20% | 52.05% | -22.48% | -17.88% |
Correlation
The correlation between GOVZ and NIKL is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 23, 2023 | 0.12 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
GOVZ vs. NIKL — Risk / Return Rank
GOVZ
NIKL
GOVZ vs. NIKL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 25+ Year Treasury STRIPS Bond ETF (GOVZ) and Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL). 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.
| GOVZ | NIKL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.54 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.84 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.05 | 1.16 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.28 | 1.10 | -0.82 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.63 | 2.67 | -2.04 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GOVZ | NIKL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.24 | 0.78 | -0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.48 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.58 | -0.11 | -0.47 |
Drawdowns
GOVZ vs. NIKL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GOVZ drawdown since its inception was -59.65%, roughly equal to the maximum NIKL drawdown of -60.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GOVZ and NIKL.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| GOVZ | NIKL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.65% | -60.23% | +0.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.16% | -29.87% | +15.71% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -28.72% | -60.23% | +31.51% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -57.63% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -56.47% | -29.87% | -26.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -39.91% | -26.58% | -13.33% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.21% | 12.29% | -6.08% |
Volatility
GOVZ vs. NIKL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 25+ Year Treasury STRIPS Bond ETF (GOVZ) is 4.27%, while Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL) has a volatility of 15.28%. This indicates that GOVZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NIKL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| GOVZ | NIKL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.27% | 15.28% | -11.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.50% | 35.54% | -25.04% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.26% | 42.12% | -25.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.93% | 32.62% | -8.69% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.35% | 32.62% | -9.27% |
GOVZ vs. NIKL - Expense Ratio Comparison
GOVZ has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than NIKL's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
GOVZ vs. NIKL - Dividend Comparison
GOVZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.18%, more than NIKL's 2.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GOVZ iShares 25+ Year Treasury STRIPS Bond ETF | 5.18% | 5.00% | 4.68% | 3.84% | 3.69% | 1.76% | 0.39% |
NIKL Sprott Nickel Miners ETF | 2.75% | 2.53% | 3.49% | 19.52% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
GOVZ and NIKL have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NIKL has higher volatility (15.28%) compared to GOVZ (4.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GOVZ dropped -59.65% vs NIKL's -60.23%.
On 3-year performance, NIKL leads with -3.41% vs -7.43% for GOVZ. On fees, GOVZ is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, GOVZ has been the lower-risk option at 4.27%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, NIKL has performed better with a -3.41% return vs -7.43%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GOVZ is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for NIKL.
GOVZ has the higher dividend yield at 5.18%, compared with 2.75% for NIKL.
GOVZ is categorized as Government Bonds, while NIKL is Energy Equities. GOVZ tracks ICE BofA Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS Index, while NIKL tracks Nasdaq Sprott Nickel Miners Index - Benchmark TR Gross. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Sprott. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for GOVZ and 0.75% for NIKL.
NIKL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.78 vs 0.24), 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.
Find the right allocation for GOVZ and NIKL
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer