IBRN vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
IBRN and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IBRN is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the NYSE FactSet Global Neuro Biopharma and MedTech Index. It was launched on Aug 24, 2022. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price. It was launched on Jan 21, 2005. Both IBRN and IAU are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
IBRN vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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IBRN vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBRN iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF | 1.98% | 28.49% | -2.78% | 0.92% | 5.85% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 8.61% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | 4.88% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBRN achieves a 1.98% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 8.61% return.
IBRN
- 1D
- 7.11%
- 1M
- 2.75%
- YTD
- 1.98%
- 6M
- 24.24%
- 1Y
- 48.96%
- 3Y*
- 11.91%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IAU
- 1D
- 3.80%
- 1M
- -11.01%
- YTD
- 8.61%
- 6M
- 21.15%
- 1Y
- 49.53%
- 3Y*
- 33.12%
- 5Y*
- 21.78%
- 10Y*
- 14.08%
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IBRN vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBRN has a 0.47% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
IBRN vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
IBRN
IAU
IBRN vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) 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.
| IBRN | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.68 | 1.80 | -0.13 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.32 | 2.24 | +0.09 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.33 | -0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.53 | 2.69 | -0.16 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.59 | 9.97 | -0.38 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IBRN | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.68 | 1.80 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 1.24 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.89 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.35 | 0.64 | -0.29 |
Correlation
The correlation between IBRN and IAU is 0.13, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
IBRN vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
IBRN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.97%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IBRN iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF | 0.97% | 0.99% | 0.40% | 0.06% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
IBRN vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBRN drawdown since its inception was -35.38%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBRN and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBRN | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.38% | -45.14% | +9.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.44% | -19.18% | +3.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -20.93% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -21.82% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.72% | -13.20% | +11.48% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.20% | -15.98% | +5.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.62% | 5.18% | -0.56% |
Volatility
IBRN vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) has a higher volatility of 12.31% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 11.02%. This indicates that IBRN'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
| IBRN | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 12.31% | 11.02% | +1.29% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.64% | 24.11% | -4.47% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 29.56% | 27.62% | +1.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.40% | 17.69% | +7.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.40% | 15.82% | +9.58% |