IAU vs. MRSH
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while MRSH (Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 12.31%/yr vs 11.75%/yr for MRSH. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
IAU vs. MRSH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -2.44% return, which is significantly higher than MRSH's -8.15% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IAU having a 12.31% annualized return and MRSH not far behind at 11.75%.
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%
MRSH
- 1D
- 0.32%
- 1M
- 4.74%
- YTD
- -8.15%
- 6M
- -8.49%
- 1Y
- -20.92%
- 3Y*
- -0.08%
- 5Y*
- 5.55%
- 10Y*
- 11.75%
IAU vs. MRSH - 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% |
MRSH Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc | -8.15% | -11.26% | 13.75% | 16.15% | -3.45% | 50.83% | 6.86% | 42.33% | -0.14% | 22.73% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and MRSH is -0.17, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.17 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.06 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.00 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | -0.01 |
The correlation between IAU and MRSH shifts across timeframes, from -0.17 (1 year) to -0.00 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IAU vs. MRSH — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
MRSH
IAU vs. MRSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc (MRSH). 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 | MRSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.81 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 0.85 | +0.34 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.99 | -0.80 | +1.79 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.83 | -1.40 | +4.23 |
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Drawdowns
IAU vs. MRSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum MRSH drawdown of -67.46%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and MRSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | MRSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -67.46% | +22.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.40% | -27.01% | +2.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.40% | -34.36% | +9.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.40% | -34.36% | +9.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.40% | -35.80% | +11.40% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.03% | -29.62% | +7.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.97% | -17.41% | +1.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.47% | 15.50% | -7.03% |
Volatility
IAU vs. MRSH - Volatility Comparison
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a higher volatility of 7.70% compared to Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc (MRSH) at 6.91%. This indicates that IAU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MRSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IAU | MRSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.70% | 6.91% | +0.79% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.94% | 19.10% | +4.84% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.17% | 23.47% | +3.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.16% | 20.20% | -2.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.02% | 20.94% | -4.92% |
Dividends
IAU vs. MRSH - Dividend Comparison
IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders, while MRSH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.13%.
| 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% |
MRSH Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc | 2.13% | 1.85% | 1.44% | 1.37% | 1.36% | 1.15% | 1.57% | 1.56% | 1.98% | 1.76% | 1.92% | 2.13% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and MRSH have a correlation of -0.17, 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 MRSH (6.91%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs MRSH's -67.46%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs -0.93), 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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