IAU vs. FXF
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) and FXF (Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while FXF is a Currency fund tracking the Swiss Franc. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 12.31%/yr vs 1.06%/yr for FXF. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IAU charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for FXF.
Performance
IAU vs. FXF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -2.44% return, which is significantly lower than FXF's -0.80% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has outperformed FXF with an annualized return of 12.31%, while FXF has yielded a comparatively lower 1.06% annualized return.
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -10.21%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 23.95%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
FXF
- 1D
- -0.15%
- 1M
- -1.88%
- YTD
- -0.80%
- 6M
- -0.32%
- 1Y
- 1.23%
- 3Y*
- 4.05%
- 5Y*
- 1.88%
- 10Y*
- 1.06%
IAU vs. FXF - 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% |
FXF Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust | -0.80% | 14.04% | -7.46% | 9.63% | -2.29% | -4.08% | 8.18% | 0.32% | -2.01% | 3.31% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and FXF is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2006 | 0.43 |
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Return for Risk
IAU vs. FXF — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
FXF
IAU vs. FXF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust (FXF). 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 | FXF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.72 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.94 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.03 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.99 | 0.25 | +0.74 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.83 | 0.54 | +2.29 |
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Drawdowns
IAU vs. FXF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, which is greater than FXF's maximum drawdown of -35.58%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and FXF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | FXF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -35.58% | -9.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.40% | -4.97% | -19.43% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.40% | -8.52% | -15.88% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.40% | -12.68% | -11.72% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.40% | -15.04% | -9.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.03% | -19.02% | -3.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.97% | -20.83% | +4.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.47% | 2.28% | +6.19% |
Volatility
IAU vs. FXF - Volatility Comparison
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a higher volatility of 7.70% compared to Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust (FXF) at 1.81%. This indicates that IAU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FXF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IAU | FXF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.70% | 1.81% | +5.89% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.94% | 5.56% | +18.38% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.17% | 7.49% | +19.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.16% | 8.33% | +9.83% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.02% | 7.57% | +8.45% |
IAU vs. FXF - Expense Ratio Comparison
IAU has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than FXF's 0.40% expense ratio.
Dividends
IAU vs. FXF - Dividend Comparison
Neither IAU nor FXF has paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FXF Invesco CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and FXF have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (7.70%) compared to FXF (1.81%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs FXF's -35.58%.
On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 12.31% vs 1.06% for FXF. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, FXF has been the lower-risk option at 1.81%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IAU has performed better with a 12.31% return vs 1.06%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for FXF.
IAU and FXF have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
IAU is categorized as Gold, while FXF is Currency. IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price, while FXF tracks Swiss Franc. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for IAU and 0.40% for FXF.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs 0.17), 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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