IAU vs. OEF
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) and OEF (iShares S&P 100 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while OEF is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P 100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 12.49%/yr vs 16.78%/yr for OEF. At a 0.05 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IAU charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for OEF.
Performance
IAU vs. OEF - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a 0.11% return, which is significantly lower than OEF's 8.71% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has underperformed OEF with an annualized return of 12.49%, while OEF has yielded a comparatively higher 16.78% annualized return.
IAU
- 1D
- 2.61%
- 1M
- -4.97%
- YTD
- 0.11%
- 6M
- 0.22%
- 1Y
- 25.52%
- 3Y*
- 29.91%
- 5Y*
- 18.47%
- 10Y*
- 12.49%
OEF
- 1D
- 2.03%
- 1M
- 0.66%
- YTD
- 8.71%
- 6M
- 9.60%
- 1Y
- 28.24%
- 3Y*
- 23.02%
- 5Y*
- 15.42%
- 10Y*
- 16.78%
IAU vs. OEF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.11% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
OEF iShares S&P 100 ETF | 8.71% | 19.80% | 30.74% | 32.71% | -21.03% | 29.18% | 21.21% | 31.87% | -4.16% | 21.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and OEF is 0.22, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.05 |
The correlation between IAU and OEF shifts across timeframes, from 0.05 (all time) to 0.22 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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. OEF — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
OEF
IAU vs. OEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and iShares S&P 100 ETF (OEF). 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 | OEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.20 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.39 | -0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.05 | 2.57 | -1.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.00 | 10.52 | -7.52 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IAU vs. OEF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum OEF drawdown of -54.11%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and OEF.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | OEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -54.11% | +8.97% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.40% | -11.06% | -13.34% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.40% | -19.80% | -4.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.40% | -26.47% | +2.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.40% | -31.44% | +7.04% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -20.00% | -1.67% | -18.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.97% | -11.74% | -4.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.56% | 2.69% | +5.87% |
Volatility
IAU vs. OEF - Volatility Comparison
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a higher volatility of 8.29% compared to iShares S&P 100 ETF (OEF) at 4.96%. This indicates that IAU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than OEF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IAU | OEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.29% | 4.96% | +3.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.06% | 10.42% | +13.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.29% | 13.29% | +14.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.20% | 17.79% | +0.41% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.04% | 18.49% | -2.45% |
IAU vs. OEF - Expense Ratio Comparison
IAU has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than OEF'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. OEF - Dividend Comparison
IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders, while OEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.04%.
| 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% |
OEF iShares S&P 100 ETF | 1.04% | 0.81% | 1.03% | 1.19% | 1.55% | 1.06% | 1.43% | 1.87% | 2.09% | 1.81% | 2.07% | 2.11% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and OEF have a correlation of 0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (8.29%) compared to OEF (4.96%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs OEF's -54.11%.
On 10-year performance, OEF leads with 16.78% vs 12.49% for IAU. On fees, OEF is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, OEF has been the lower-risk option at 4.96%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, OEF has performed better with a 16.78% return vs 12.49%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
OEF is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.
OEF has the higher dividend yield at 1.04%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
IAU is categorized as Gold, while OEF is Large Cap Blend Equities. IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price, while OEF tracks S&P 100 Index. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for IAU and 0.20% for OEF.
OEF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.14 vs 0.94), 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 OEF
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