IAU vs. CEF.TO
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (CEF.TO).
IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price. It was launched on Jan 21, 2005.
Performance
IAU vs. CEF.TO - Performance Comparison
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IAU vs. CEF.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 10.48% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
CEF.TO Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust | 5.69% | 92.54% | 24.12% | 7.09% | 0.66% | -8.06% | 31.91% | 16.78% | -6.40% | 17.82% |
Different Trading Currencies
IAU is traded in USD, while CEF.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the CEF.TO values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a 10.48% return, which is significantly higher than CEF.TO's 5.69% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has underperformed CEF.TO with an annualized return of 14.27%, while CEF.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 15.18% annualized return.
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%
CEF.TO
- 1D
- 1.33%
- 1M
- -13.71%
- YTD
- 5.69%
- 6M
- 30.90%
- 1Y
- 71.14%
- 3Y*
- 36.77%
- 5Y*
- 22.25%
- 10Y*
- 15.18%
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Return for Risk
IAU vs. CEF.TO — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
CEF.TO
IAU vs. CEF.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (CEF.TO). 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 | CEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.90 | 1.92 | -0.01 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.33 | 2.18 | +0.15 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.35 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.72 | 2.60 | +0.12 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.95 | 9.51 | +0.44 |
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
| IAU | CEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.90 | 1.92 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.26 | 0.94 | +0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 | 0.69 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.65 | 0.36 | +0.29 |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and CEF.TO is 0.84, 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.
Dividends
IAU vs. CEF.TO - Dividend Comparison
Neither IAU nor CEF.TO has paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
CEF.TO Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.09% | 0.09% |
Drawdowns
IAU vs. CEF.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum CEF.TO drawdown of -62.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and CEF.TO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | CEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -58.68% | +13.54% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.18% | -25.60% | +6.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.93% | -25.60% | +4.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.82% | -29.04% | +7.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.71% | -16.80% | +5.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.98% | -30.46% | +14.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.23% | 7.12% | -1.89% |
Volatility
IAU vs. CEF.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is 10.44%, while Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (CEF.TO) has a volatility of 13.31%. This indicates that IAU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CEF.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IAU | CEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.44% | 13.31% | -2.87% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.15% | 35.29% | -11.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.64% | 37.28% | -9.64% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.70% | 23.93% | -6.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.83% | 22.28% | -6.45% |