IAU vs. GLD
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and SPDR Gold Trust (GLD).
IAU and GLD are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. GLD is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Nov 18, 2004. Both IAU and GLD are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: IAU or GLD.
Performance
IAU vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with IAU having a 23.93% return and GLD slightly lower at 23.76%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IAU having a 7.69% annualized return and GLD not far behind at 7.49%.
IAU
23.93%
-4.27%
5.87%
28.99%
11.62%
7.69%
GLD
23.76%
-4.27%
5.78%
28.80%
11.37%
7.49%
Key characteristics
| IAU | GLD | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.07 | 2.05 |
| Sortino Ratio | 2.77 | 2.75 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.36 | 1.36 |
| Calmar Ratio | 3.75 | 3.73 |
| Martin Ratio | 12.53 | 12.45 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.43% | 2.43% |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.74% | 14.77% |
| Max Drawdown | -45.14% | -45.56% |
| Current Drawdown | -8.13% | -8.12% |
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IAU vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
IAU has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than GLD's 0.40% expense ratio.
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and GLD is 0.99, 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.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
IAU vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and SPDR Gold Trust (GLD). 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.
Dividends
IAU vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
Neither IAU nor GLD has paid dividends to shareholders.
Drawdowns
IAU vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, roughly equal to the maximum GLD drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and GLD. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
IAU vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) have volatilities of 5.38% and 5.36%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.