IAU vs. LRGF
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) and LRGF (iShares MSCI USA Multifactor ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while LRGF is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Diversified Multi-Factor. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 11.59%/yr vs 13.48%/yr for LRGF. Their 0.04 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. IAU charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for LRGF.
Performance
IAU vs. LRGF - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -6.09% return, which is significantly lower than LRGF's 8.94% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has underperformed LRGF with an annualized return of 11.59%, while LRGF has yielded a comparatively higher 13.48% annualized return.
IAU
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- 0.69%
- 6M
- -18.72%
- YTD
- -6.09%
- 1Y
- 21.17%
- 3Y*
- 26.99%
- 5Y*
- 17.33%
- 10Y*
- 11.59%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.72%
LRGF
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- 1.20%
- 6M
- 8.82%
- YTD
- 8.94%
- 1Y
- 15.34%
- 3Y*
- 19.41%
- 5Y*
- 13.20%
- 10Y*
- 13.48%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.23%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $367.78M | $389.80M | $488.83M | |
| $11.35M | $13.93M | $11.55M |
IAU vs. LRGF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -6.09% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
LRGF iShares MSCI USA Multifactor ETF | 8.94% | 16.48% | 26.59% | 25.85% | -14.77% | 25.01% | 11.11% | 26.11% | -9.66% | 21.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and LRGF is 0.30, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.14 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 30, 2015 | 0.04 |
Over the past year, IAU and LRGF have become more correlated (0.30) than their long-term average of 0.04, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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. LRGF — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
LRGF
IAU vs. LRGF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and iShares MSCI USA Multifactor ETF (LRGF). 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 | LRGF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.53 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.71 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.22 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.76 | 1.78 | -1.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.72 | 6.95 | -5.23 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IAU vs. LRGF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, which is greater than LRGF's maximum drawdown of -36.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and LRGF.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | LRGF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -36.03% | -9.11% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.36% | -8.92% | -17.44% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.36% | -19.44% | -6.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.36% | -21.62% | -4.74% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.36% | -36.03% | +9.67% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.95% | -2.11% | -22.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.01% | -4.51% | -11.50% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.65% | 2.28% | +9.37% |
Volatility
IAU vs. LRGF - Volatility Comparison
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a higher volatility of 6.07% compared to iShares MSCI USA Multifactor ETF (LRGF) at 2.90%. This indicates that IAU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than LRGF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IAU | LRGF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.07% | 2.90% | +3.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.78% | 9.83% | +13.95% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.88% | 12.69% | +15.19% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.39% | 17.07% | +1.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.06% | 18.28% | -2.22% |
IAU vs. LRGF - Expense Ratio Comparison
IAU has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than LRGF's 0.20% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IAU vs. LRGF - Dividend Comparison
IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders, while LRGF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.09%.
| Position | 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% |
LRGF iShares MSCI USA Multifactor ETF | 1.09% | 1.16% | 1.23% | 1.49% | 1.78% | 1.05% | 1.35% | 1.76% | 3.27% | 1.68% | 1.56% | 0.83% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and LRGF have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (6.07%) compared to LRGF (2.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs LRGF's -36.03%.
On 10-year performance, LRGF leads with 13.48% vs 11.59% for IAU. On fees, LRGF is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, LRGF has been the lower-risk option at 2.90%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, LRGF has performed better with a 13.48% return vs 11.59%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
LRGF is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.
LRGF has the higher dividend yield at 1.09%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
IAU is categorized as Gold, while LRGF is Large Cap Blend Equities. IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price, while LRGF tracks MSCI USA Diversified Multi-Factor. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for IAU and 0.20% for LRGF.
LRGF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.25 vs 0.72), 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 LRGF
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