HEWJ vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
HEWJ and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. HEWJ is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Japan 100% Hedged to USD Index. It was launched on Jan 31, 2014. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price. It was launched on Jan 21, 2005. Both HEWJ 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.
Performance
HEWJ vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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HEWJ vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HEWJ iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | 9.72% | 30.25% | 24.80% | 36.21% | -4.39% | 12.79% | 10.29% | 20.79% | -14.68% | 21.47% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 10.48% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, HEWJ achieves a 9.72% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 10.48% return. Over the past 10 years, HEWJ has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 15.43%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 14.27% annualized return.
HEWJ
- 1D
- 2.74%
- 1M
- -2.87%
- YTD
- 9.72%
- 6M
- 23.14%
- 1Y
- 46.23%
- 3Y*
- 30.07%
- 5Y*
- 19.05%
- 10Y*
- 15.43%
IAU
- 1D
- 1.72%
- 1M
- -10.66%
- YTD
- 10.48%
- 6M
- 23.05%
- 1Y
- 52.36%
- 3Y*
- 33.88%
- 5Y*
- 22.19%
- 10Y*
- 14.27%
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HEWJ vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
HEWJ has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
HEWJ vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
HEWJ
IAU
HEWJ vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) 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.
| HEWJ | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.94 | 1.90 | +0.03 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.63 | 2.33 | +0.30 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.35 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.77 | 2.72 | +1.06 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.33 | 9.95 | +4.38 |
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
| HEWJ | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.94 | 1.90 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.01 | 1.26 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 | 0.90 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.66 | 0.65 | +0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between HEWJ and IAU is -0.12. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
HEWJ vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
HEWJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.65%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HEWJ iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | 4.65% | 5.10% | 2.20% | 2.02% | 47.68% | 2.03% | 1.20% | 2.78% | 1.37% | 1.21% | 1.88% | 3.25% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
HEWJ vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HEWJ drawdown since its inception was -31.53%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HEWJ and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| HEWJ | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -31.53% | -45.14% | +13.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.99% | -19.18% | +7.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.90% | -20.93% | +0.03% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -31.53% | -21.82% | -9.71% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.49% | -11.71% | +7.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.68% | -15.98% | +9.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.16% | 5.23% | -2.07% |
Volatility
HEWJ vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) is 7.97%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 10.44%. This indicates that HEWJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| HEWJ | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.97% | 10.44% | -2.47% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.91% | 24.15% | -9.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.99% | 27.64% | -3.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.02% | 17.70% | +1.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.00% | 15.83% | +4.17% |