IAU vs. CWST
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while CWST (Casella Waste Systems, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 11.43%/yr vs 26.34%/yr for CWST. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IAU vs. CWST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -7.17% return, which is significantly lower than CWST's -4.46% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has underperformed CWST with an annualized return of 11.43%, while CWST has yielded a comparatively higher 26.34% annualized return.
IAU
- 1D
- -0.20%
- 1M
- -5.02%
- 6M
- -12.66%
- YTD
- -7.17%
- 1Y
- 19.36%
- 3Y*
- 26.56%
- 5Y*
- 17.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.43%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.67%
CWST
- 1D
- -2.23%
- 1M
- 7.58%
- 6M
- -11.85%
- YTD
- -4.46%
- 1Y
- -13.31%
- 3Y*
- 2.21%
- 5Y*
- 7.32%
- 10Y*
- 26.34%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.05%
IAU vs. CWST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -7.17% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
CWST Casella Waste Systems, Inc. | -4.46% | -7.44% | 23.81% | 7.75% | -7.15% | 37.89% | 34.59% | 61.57% | 23.76% | 85.50% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and CWST is -0.10, 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 | -0.10 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.03 |
The correlation between IAU and CWST shifts across timeframes, from -0.10 (1 year) to 0.06 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IAU vs. CWST — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
CWST
IAU vs. CWST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST). 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 | CWST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 0.96 | +0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.74 | -0.41 | +1.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.72 | -0.75 | +2.47 |
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Drawdowns
IAU vs. CWST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum CWST drawdown of -98.52%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and CWST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | CWST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -98.52% | +53.38% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.36% | -32.56% | +6.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.36% | -37.72% | +11.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.36% | -37.72% | +11.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.36% | -37.72% | +11.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -25.81% | -22.26% | -3.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.00% | -52.91% | +36.91% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.25% | 17.80% | -6.55% |
Volatility
IAU vs. CWST - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is 6.34%, while Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) has a volatility of 11.67%. This indicates that IAU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CWST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IAU | CWST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.34% | 11.67% | -5.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.03% | 28.86% | -4.83% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.86% | 35.12% | -7.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.36% | 27.64% | -9.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.05% | 31.00% | -14.95% |
Dividends
IAU vs. CWST - Dividend Comparison
Neither IAU nor CWST has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and CWST have a correlation of -0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CWST has higher volatility (11.67%) compared to IAU (6.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs CWST's -98.52%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.70 vs -0.38), 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.
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