IBGL vs. IAU
IBGL (iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - IBGL is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2055 Maturity US Treasury Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IBGL returned -1.93% vs 20.38% for IAU. Their 0.11 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. IBGL charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
IBGL vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBGL achieves a -3.05% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -6.14% return.
IBGL
- 1D
- 0.39%
- 1M
- -3.47%
- 6M
- -2.70%
- YTD
- -3.05%
- 1Y
- -1.93%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- -1.55%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- -1.70%
- 6M
- -13.00%
- YTD
- -6.14%
- 1Y
- 20.38%
- 3Y*
- 27.49%
- 5Y*
- 17.16%
- 10Y*
- 11.45%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.71%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $325.17M | $361.79M | $469.22M | |
| $19.65K | $17.90K | $15.83K |
IBGL vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
IBGL iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF | -3.05% | 0.99% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -6.14% | 42.43% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBGL and IAU is 0.11, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.11 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 26, 2025 | 0.11 |
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Return for Risk
IBGL vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
IBGL
IAU
IBGL vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF (IBGL) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). 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.
| IBGL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.96 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.33 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.97 | 1.16 | -0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.26 | 0.78 | -1.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.57 | 1.67 | -2.23 |
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Drawdowns
IBGL vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBGL drawdown since its inception was -9.37%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBGL and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBGL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.37% | -45.14% | +35.77% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.44% | -26.36% | +18.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -26.36% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -26.36% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -26.36% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.08% | -24.99% | +17.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.09% | -16.02% | +11.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.41% | 12.26% | -8.85% |
Volatility
IBGL vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF (IBGL) is 2.43%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.99%. This indicates that IBGL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBGL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.43% | 5.99% | -3.56% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.51% | 20.79% | -14.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.79% | 27.90% | -19.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.35% | 18.43% | -8.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.35% | 16.08% | -5.73% |
IBGL vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBGL has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than IAU's 0.25% 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
IBGL vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
IBGL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.88%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IBGL iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF | 4.88% | 3.52% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBGL and IAU have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (5.99%) compared to IBGL (2.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBGL dropped -9.37% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 1-year performance, IAU leads with 20.38% vs -1.93% for IBGL. On fees, IBGL is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, IBGL has been the lower-risk option at 2.43%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IAU has performed better with a 20.38% return vs -1.93%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBGL is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.
IBGL has the higher dividend yield at 4.88%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
IBGL is categorized as Government Bonds, while IAU is Gold. IBGL tracks ICE 2055 Maturity US Treasury Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IBGL and 0.25% for IAU.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.74 vs -0.22), 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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