IAU vs. YCS
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 11.52%/yr vs 13.35%/yr for YCS. Their -0.37 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. IAU charges 0.25%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.
Performance
IAU vs. YCS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -5.52% return, which is significantly lower than YCS's 5.42% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has underperformed YCS with an annualized return of 11.52%, while YCS has yielded a comparatively higher 13.35% annualized return.
IAU
- 1D
- 0.66%
- 1M
- -1.06%
- 6M
- -17.56%
- YTD
- -5.52%
- 1Y
- 20.51%
- 3Y*
- 27.77%
- 5Y*
- 17.43%
- 10Y*
- 11.52%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.74%
YCS
- 1D
- 1.26%
- 1M
- -3.97%
- 6M
- 6.17%
- YTD
- 5.42%
- 1Y
- 23.44%
- 3Y*
- 17.45%
- 5Y*
- 23.10%
- 10Y*
- 13.35%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.33%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $375.17M | $380.53M | $472.45M | |
| $2.54M | $2.29M | $1.59M |
IAU vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -5.52% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 5.42% | 9.04% | 35.41% | 28.70% | 29.09% | 22.38% | -11.18% | 3.37% | -1.49% | -6.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and YCS is -0.20, meaning they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. This relationship can weaken or reverse as market conditions change.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | -0.20 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | -0.27 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | -0.38 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | -0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 25, 2008 | -0.37 |
The correlation between IAU and YCS shifts across timeframes, from -0.43 (10 years) to -0.20 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IAU vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
YCS
IAU vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS). 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 | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.69 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.77 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.28 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.78 | 2.78 | -2.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.66 | 10.25 | -8.59 |
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Drawdowns
IAU vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum YCS drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and YCS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -49.56% | +4.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.36% | -8.48% | -17.88% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.36% | -23.05% | -3.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.36% | -27.32% | +0.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.36% | -27.32% | +0.96% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.50% | -7.32% | -17.18% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.02% | -19.75% | +3.73% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 12.36% | 2.29% | +10.07% |
Volatility
IAU vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) have volatilities of 5.93% and 5.95%, 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.
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Volatility by Period
| IAU | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.93% | 5.95% | -0.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.43% | 11.87% | +8.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.85% | 16.44% | +11.41% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.43% | 21.21% | -2.78% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.07% | 18.61% | -2.54% |
IAU vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison
IAU has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
IAU vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison
Neither IAU nor YCS has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and YCS have a correlation of -0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
YCS has higher volatility (5.95%) compared to IAU (5.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs YCS's -49.56%.
On 10-year performance, YCS leads with 13.35% vs 11.52% for IAU. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, YCS has performed better with a 13.35% return vs 11.52%. 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 1.00% for YCS.
IAU and YCS have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
IAU is categorized as Gold, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price, while YCS tracks USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). They also come from different issuers: iShares and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for IAU and 1.00% for YCS.
YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.43 vs 0.74), 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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