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IAUM vs. XLRE
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IAUM vs. XLRE

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

IAUM (iShares Gold Trust Micro) and XLRE (Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - IAUM is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM, while XLRE is a REIT fund tracking the Real Estate Select Sector Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, IAUM returned 30.12%/yr vs 9.56%/yr for XLRE. At a 0.16 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IAUM charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for XLRE.

Performance

IAUM vs. XLRE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) and Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IAUM achieves a 0.28% return, which is significantly lower than XLRE's 9.85% return.

IAUM

1D
0.21%
1M
-8.41%
YTD
0.28%
6M
3.16%
1Y
30.56%
3Y*
30.12%
5Y*
—
10Y*
—

XLRE

1D
-1.50%
1M
-0.86%
YTD
9.85%
6M
9.99%
1Y
8.79%
3Y*
9.56%
5Y*
2.78%
10Y*
6.77%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IAUM vs. XLRE - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024202320222021
IAUM
iShares Gold Trust Micro		0.28%64.27%27.04%13.12%-0.49%3.87%
XLRE
Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund		9.85%2.63%5.09%12.36%-26.25%17.53%

Correlation

The correlation between IAUM and XLRE is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

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

0.17

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

0.16

IAUM vs. XLRE - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IAUM
XLRE

Real Estate

100.0%
98.0%

Basic Materials

-

1.9%

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Financial Services

-

-

Healthcare

-

-

Industrials

-

-

Technology

-

-

Utilities

-

-

Real Estate

IAUM
100.0%
XLRE
98.0%

Basic Materials

IAUM

-

XLRE
1.9%

Communication Services

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Consumer Cyclical

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Consumer Defensive

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Energy

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Financial Services

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Healthcare

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Industrials

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Technology

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Utilities

IAUM

-

XLRE

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares Gold Trust Micro

Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund

Often compared with IAUM:
IAUM vs. IAUIAUM vs. GLDMIAUM vs. GLDIAUM vs. FSAGXIAUM vs. SGOLIAUM vs. PHYSIAUM vs. SIVR
Often compared with XLRE:
XLRE vs. VNQXLRE vs. SCHHXLRE vs. SPYXLRE vs. USRTXLRE vs. IYRXLRE vs. REETXLRE vs. FREL

Return for Risk

IAUM vs. XLRE — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
IAUM
IAUM Risk / Return Rank: 3434
Overall Rank
IAUM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3535
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IAUM Sortino Ratio Rank: 3131
Sortino Ratio Rank
IAUM Omega Ratio Rank: 3939
Omega Ratio Rank
IAUM Calmar Ratio Rank: 3434
Calmar Ratio Rank
IAUM Martin Ratio Rank: 2929
Martin Ratio Rank
XLRE
XLRE Risk / Return Rank: 2222
Overall Rank
XLRE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2121
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XLRE Sortino Ratio Rank: 2020
Sortino Ratio Rank
XLRE Omega Ratio Rank: 2020
Omega Ratio Rank
XLRE Calmar Ratio Rank: 2424
Calmar Ratio Rank
XLRE Martin Ratio Rank: 2424
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. XLRE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) and Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE). 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.

IAUMXLREDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.16
0.65

+0.51

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.54
0.95

+0.59

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.23

1.12

+0.11

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.53

1.06

+0.47

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

3.84

2.91

+0.93

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IAUM vs. XLRE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IAUM Sharpe Ratio is 1.16, which is higher than the XLRE Sharpe Ratio of 0.65. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IAUM and XLRE, 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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Sharpe Ratios by Period

IAUMXLREDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.16

0.65

+0.51

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

—

0.15

—

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

—

0.33

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

1.11

0.35

+0.76

Drawdowns

IAUM vs. XLRE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IAUM drawdown since its inception was -20.87%, smaller than the maximum XLRE drawdown of -38.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAUM and XLRE.

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Drawdown Indicators

IAUMXLREDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-20.87%

-38.83%

+17.96%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-20.02%

-8.33%

-11.69%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-20.02%

-16.74%

-3.28%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

—

-34.12%

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-38.83%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-19.85%

-1.82%

-18.03%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-5.33%

-9.60%

+4.27%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

7.98%

3.03%

+4.95%

Volatility

IAUM vs. XLRE - Volatility Comparison

iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) has a higher volatility of 5.64% compared to Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) at 4.31%. This indicates that IAUM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLRE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IAUMXLREDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.64%

4.31%

+1.33%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

23.20%

10.00%

+13.20%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

26.57%

13.70%

+12.87%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.92%

19.09%

-1.17%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

17.92%

20.42%

-2.50%

IAUM vs. XLRE - Expense Ratio Comparison

IAUM has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than XLRE's 0.13% expense ratio. Despite the difference, 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. XLRE - Dividend Comparison

IAUM has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XLRE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.18%.

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%
XLRE
Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund		3.18%3.45%3.43%3.31%3.70%2.61%3.15%3.06%3.78%3.25%4.22%1.09%

Frequently Asked Questions

IAUM and XLRE 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.

IAUM has higher volatility (5.64%) compared to XLRE (4.31%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAUM dropped -20.87% vs XLRE's -38.83%.

On 3-year performance, IAUM leads with 30.12% vs 9.56% for XLRE. On fees, IAUM is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, XLRE has been the lower-risk option at 4.31%. 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 30.12% return vs 9.56%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

IAUM is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.13% for XLRE.

XLRE has the higher dividend yield at 3.18%, compared with 0.00% for IAUM.

IAUM is categorized as Gold, while XLRE is REIT. IAUM tracks LBMA Gold Price PM, while XLRE tracks Real Estate Select Sector Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for IAUM and 0.13% for XLRE.

IAUM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.16 vs 0.65), 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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