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IAUM vs. SPYM
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IAUM vs. SPYM

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

IAUM (iShares Gold Trust Micro) and SPYM (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IAUM is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM, while SPYM is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, IAUM returned 29.28%/yr vs 20.95%/yr for SPYM. At a 0.12 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IAUM charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.02%/yr for SPYM.

Performance

IAUM vs. SPYM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IAUM achieves a -2.40% return, which is significantly lower than SPYM's 9.10% return.

IAUM

1D
0.10%
1M
-10.19%
YTD
-2.40%
6M
-2.08%
1Y
24.22%
3Y*
29.28%
5Y*
—
10Y*
—

SPYM

1D
0.53%
1M
-0.08%
YTD
9.10%
6M
9.42%
1Y
24.36%
3Y*
20.95%
5Y*
13.43%
10Y*
15.52%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IAUM vs. SPYM - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024202320222021
IAUM
iShares Gold Trust Micro		-2.40%64.27%27.04%13.12%-0.49%3.87%
SPYM
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF		9.10%17.79%25.00%26.24%-18.09%11.83%

Correlation

The correlation between IAUM and SPYM is 0.24, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.24

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.17

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 29, 2021

0.12

The correlation between IAUM and SPYM shifts across timeframes, from 0.12 (all time) to 0.24 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

IAUM vs. SPYM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IAUM
SPYM

Real Estate

100.0%
1.8%

Basic Materials

-

1.7%

Communication Services

-

10.6%

Consumer Cyclical

-

9.9%

Consumer Defensive

-

4.6%

Energy

-

3.2%

Financial Services

-

11.1%

Healthcare

-

8.4%

Industrials

-

7.6%

Technology

-

38.5%

Utilities

-

2.5%

Real Estate

IAUM
100.0%
SPYM
1.8%

Basic Materials

IAUM

-

SPYM
1.7%

Communication Services

IAUM

-

SPYM
10.6%

Consumer Cyclical

IAUM

-

SPYM
9.9%

Consumer Defensive

IAUM

-

SPYM
4.6%

Energy

IAUM

-

SPYM
3.2%

Financial Services

IAUM

-

SPYM
11.1%

Healthcare

IAUM

-

SPYM
8.4%

Industrials

IAUM

-

SPYM
7.6%

Technology

IAUM

-

SPYM
38.5%

Utilities

IAUM

-

SPYM
2.5%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Gold Trust Micro

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF

Often compared with IAUM:
IAUM vs. IAUIAUM vs. GLDMIAUM vs. GLDIAUM vs. FSAGXIAUM vs. SGOLIAUM vs. PHYSIAUM vs. SIVR
Often compared with SPYM:
SPYM vs. SPYSPYM vs. VOOSPYM vs. QQQMSPYM vs. SPMOSPYM vs. VTISPYM vs. SPYGSPYM vs. SCHG

Return for Risk

IAUM vs. SPYM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
IAUM
IAUM Risk / Return Rank: 2727
Overall Rank
IAUM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2828
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IAUM Sortino Ratio Rank: 2525
Sortino Ratio Rank
IAUM Omega Ratio Rank: 3131
Omega Ratio Rank
IAUM Calmar Ratio Rank: 2424
Calmar Ratio Rank
IAUM Martin Ratio Rank: 2525
Martin Ratio Rank
SPYM
SPYM Risk / Return Rank: 7070
Overall Rank
SPYM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7272
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SPYM Sortino Ratio Rank: 6969
Sortino Ratio Rank
SPYM Omega Ratio Rank: 7272
Omega Ratio Rank
SPYM Calmar Ratio Rank: 6363
Calmar Ratio Rank
SPYM Martin Ratio Rank: 7676
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IAUM vs. SPYM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM). 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.

IAUMSPYMDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.90
2.00

-1.10

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.26
2.70

-1.44

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.19

1.36

-0.18

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.00

2.75

-1.75

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

2.87

12.42

-9.55

IAUM vs. SPYM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IAUM Sharpe Ratio is 0.90, which is lower than the SPYM Sharpe Ratio of 2.00. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IAUM and SPYM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

IAUM vs. SPYM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IAUM drawdown since its inception was -24.37%, smaller than the maximum SPYM drawdown of -54.46%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAUM and SPYM.

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Drawdown Indicators

IAUMSPYMDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-24.37%

-54.46%

+30.09%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-24.37%

-8.90%

-15.47%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-24.37%

-18.72%

-5.65%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

—

-24.48%

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-33.87%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-21.99%

-2.35%

-19.64%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-5.38%

-7.15%

+1.77%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

8.46%

1.97%

+6.49%

Volatility

IAUM vs. SPYM - Volatility Comparison

iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) has a higher volatility of 7.71% compared to State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) at 4.33%. This indicates that IAUM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPYM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IAUMSPYMDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

7.71%

4.33%

+3.38%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

23.82%

9.58%

+14.24%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

27.06%

12.26%

+14.80%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

18.05%

16.87%

+1.18%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.05%

18.03%

+0.02%

IAUM vs. SPYM - Expense Ratio Comparison

IAUM has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than SPYM's 0.02% 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

IAUM vs. SPYM - Dividend Comparison

IAUM has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SPYM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.29%.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
IAUM
iShares Gold Trust Micro		0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
SPYM
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF		1.29%1.13%1.28%1.44%1.69%1.25%1.54%1.79%2.23%1.75%1.97%1.98%

Frequently Asked Questions

IAUM and SPYM have a correlation of 0.24, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

IAUM has higher volatility (7.71%) compared to SPYM (4.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAUM dropped -24.37% vs SPYM's -54.46%.

On 3-year performance, IAUM leads with 29.28% vs 20.95% for SPYM. On fees, SPYM is cheaper at 0.02% per year. On volatility, SPYM has been the lower-risk option at 4.33%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 3-year period, IAUM has performed better with a 29.28% return vs 20.95%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

SPYM is cheaper with a 0.02% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for IAUM.

SPYM has the higher dividend yield at 1.29%, compared with 0.00% for IAUM.

IAUM is categorized as Gold, while SPYM is S&P 500. IAUM tracks LBMA Gold Price PM, while SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for IAUM and 0.02% for SPYM.

SPYM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.00 vs 0.90), 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.

Portfolio Optimizer

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