IAU vs. CRM
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while CRM (Salesforce, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 12.31%/yr vs 7.60%/yr for CRM. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IAU vs. CRM - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -2.44% return, which is significantly higher than CRM's -37.06% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has outperformed CRM with an annualized return of 12.31%, while CRM has yielded a comparatively lower 7.60% annualized return.
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -7.39%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 22.32%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
CRM
- 1D
- -0.34%
- 1M
- -4.14%
- YTD
- -37.06%
- 6M
- -36.31%
- 1Y
- -35.16%
- 3Y*
- -6.88%
- 5Y*
- -6.82%
- 10Y*
- 7.60%
IAU vs. CRM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -2.44% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
CRM Salesforce, Inc. | -37.06% | -20.25% | 27.76% | 98.46% | -47.83% | 14.20% | 36.82% | 18.74% | 33.98% | 49.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and CRM is -0.05, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.02 |
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
IAU vs. CRM — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
CRM
IAU vs. CRM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Salesforce, Inc. (CRM). 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.
| IAU | CRM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.87 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.62 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 0.84 | +0.35 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.99 | -0.95 | +1.93 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.83 | -1.78 | +4.62 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IAU vs. CRM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum CRM drawdown of -70.50%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and CRM.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | CRM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -70.50% | +25.36% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.40% | -39.36% | +14.96% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.40% | -54.70% | +30.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.40% | -58.62% | +34.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.40% | -58.62% | +34.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.03% | -54.33% | +32.30% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.97% | -16.15% | +0.18% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.47% | 20.92% | -12.45% |
Volatility
IAU vs. CRM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is 7.70%, while Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) has a volatility of 16.76%. This indicates that IAU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CRM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IAU | CRM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.70% | 16.76% | -9.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.94% | 31.59% | -7.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.17% | 38.09% | -10.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.16% | 37.07% | -18.91% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.02% | 35.38% | -19.36% |
Dividends
IAU vs. CRM - Dividend Comparison
IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders, while CRM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.28%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
CRM Salesforce, Inc. | 1.28% | 0.63% | 0.48% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and CRM have a correlation of -0.05, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CRM has higher volatility (16.76%) compared to IAU (7.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs CRM's -70.50%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs -0.98), 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 IAU and CRM
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