IBIT vs. IAU
IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - IBIT is a Cryptocurrency fund tracking the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IBIT returned -43.61% vs 19.64% for IAU. At a 0.15 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. Both charge a 0.25% expense ratio.
Performance
IBIT vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBIT achieves a -31.78% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's -7.61% return.
IBIT
- 1D
- -4.08%
- 1M
- -21.16%
- YTD
- -31.78%
- 6M
- -31.52%
- 1Y
- -43.61%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IAU
- 1D
- -3.03%
- 1M
- -11.58%
- YTD
- -7.61%
- 6M
- -11.09%
- 1Y
- 19.64%
- 3Y*
- 27.30%
- 5Y*
- 17.22%
- 10Y*
- 11.42%
IBIT vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | -31.78% | -6.41% | 89.87% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -7.61% | 63.95% | 29.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBIT and IAU is 0.25, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 11, 2024 | 0.15 |
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Return for Risk
IBIT vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
IBIT
IAU
IBIT vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) 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.
| IBIT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.70 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.50 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.84 | 1.15 | -0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.83 | 0.75 | -1.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.42 | 2.14 | -3.56 |
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Drawdowns
IBIT vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBIT drawdown since its inception was -52.49%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBIT and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBIT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -52.49% | -45.14% | -7.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -52.49% | -26.17% | -26.32% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -26.17% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -26.17% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -26.17% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -52.49% | -26.17% | -26.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.91% | -15.98% | -0.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 30.76% | 9.21% | +21.55% |
Volatility
IBIT vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has a higher volatility of 13.48% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 8.50%. This indicates that IBIT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier 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
| IBIT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 13.48% | 8.50% | +4.98% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 34.60% | 24.42% | +10.18% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 44.48% | 27.55% | +16.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 50.25% | 18.24% | +32.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 50.25% | 16.01% | +34.24% |
IBIT vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IBIT and IAU have an expense ratio of 0.25%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IBIT vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither IBIT nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
IBIT and IAU have a correlation of 0.25, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBIT has higher volatility (13.48%) compared to IAU (8.50%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBIT dropped -52.49% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 1-year performance, IAU leads with 19.64% vs -43.61% for IBIT. Both ETFs have the same 0.25% expense ratio. On volatility, IAU has been the lower-risk option at 8.50%. 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 19.64% return vs -43.61%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIT and IAU have the same expense ratio: 0.25% per year.
IBIT and IAU have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
IBIT is categorized as Cryptocurrency, while IAU is Gold. IBIT tracks CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.72 vs -0.98), 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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