IAU vs. AUAU

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

IAU (iShares Gold Trust) and AUAU (Global X Gold Miners ETF) are both Gold funds - IAU tracks the LBMA Gold Price while AUAU tracks the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. Both are passively managed. Their correlation of 0.82 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IAU charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for AUAU.

Performance

IAU vs. AUAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Global X Gold Miners ETF (AUAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a 2.98% return, which is significantly higher than AUAU's 0.16% return.

IAU

• 1D: -0.98%
• 1M: -1.62%
• YTD: 2.98%
• 6M: 5.50%
• 1Y: 32.20%
• 3Y*: 31.29%
• 5Y*: 18.32%
• 10Y*: 13.31%

AUAU

• 1D: -3.14%
• 1M: -0.85%
• YTD: 0.16%
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IAU vs. AUAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
IAU iShares Gold Trust	2.98%	1.88%
AUAU Global X Gold Miners ETF	0.16%	4.18%

Correlation

The correlation between IAU and AUAU is 0.82, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 11, 2025	0.82

Return for Risk

IAU vs. AUAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 32
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 33
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 36
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 33
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 29

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IAU vs. AUAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Global X Gold Miners ETF (AUAU). 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.

	IAU	AUAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.23	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.62	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.24	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.69	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	4.19	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	IAU	AUAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.23	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.03	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.84	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.62	0.19	+0.44

Drawdowns

IAU vs. AUAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, which is greater than AUAU's maximum drawdown of -30.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and AUAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	IAU	AUAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-45.14%	-30.38%	-14.76%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.18%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.18%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.93%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-21.82%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-17.70%	-26.02%	+8.32%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-15.96%	-12.64%	-3.32%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	7.71%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	IAU	AUAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.50%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	23.02%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	26.42%	50.87%	-24.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.95%	50.87%	-32.92%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.90%	50.87%	-34.97%

IAU vs. AUAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

IAU has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than AUAU's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

IAU vs. AUAU - Dividend Comparison

Neither IAU nor AUAU has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IAU and AUAU in my portfolio?

IAU and AUAU have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, IAU or AUAU?

On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, IAU or AUAU?

IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for AUAU.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IAU or AUAU?

IAU and AUAU have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between IAU and AUAU?

IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price, while AUAU tracks NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Global X. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for IAU and 0.35% for AUAU.