IDV vs. GLD
IDV (iShares International Select Dividend ETF) and GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - IDV is a Global Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend, while GLD is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IDV returned 10.65%/yr vs 12.33%/yr for GLD. At a 0.21 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IDV charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for GLD.
Performance
IDV vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IDV achieves a 12.82% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's 0.06% return. Over the past 10 years, IDV has underperformed GLD with an annualized return of 10.65%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively higher 12.33% annualized return.
IDV
- 1D
- -0.69%
- 1M
- -0.26%
- YTD
- 12.82%
- 6M
- 14.44%
- 1Y
- 35.47%
- 3Y*
- 24.42%
- 5Y*
- 12.20%
- 10Y*
- 10.65%
GLD
- 1D
- 2.59%
- 1M
- -4.97%
- YTD
- 0.06%
- 6M
- 0.19%
- 1Y
- 25.38%
- 3Y*
- 29.73%
- 5Y*
- 18.31%
- 10Y*
- 12.33%
IDV vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IDV iShares International Select Dividend ETF | 12.82% | 52.16% | 4.00% | 10.32% | -6.40% | 12.00% | -5.94% | 23.56% | -10.37% | 19.74% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.06% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between IDV and GLD is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 21, 2007 | 0.21 |
The correlation between IDV and GLD shifts across timeframes, from 0.21 (all time) to 0.35 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IDV vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank
IDV
GLD
IDV vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.
| IDV | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.80 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.28 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.50 | 1.19 | +0.30 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.18 | 1.04 | +3.14 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.48 | 2.97 | +12.50 |
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Drawdowns
IDV vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IDV drawdown since its inception was -70.14%, which is greater than GLD's maximum drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IDV and GLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IDV | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -70.14% | -45.56% | -24.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.52% | -24.46% | +15.94% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.86% | -24.46% | +12.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.19% | -24.46% | -4.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.50% | -24.46% | -18.04% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.37% | -20.03% | +17.66% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.38% | -16.16% | +0.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.30% | 8.59% | -6.29% |
Volatility
IDV vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) is 4.28%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 8.37%. This indicates that IDV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IDV | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.28% | 8.37% | -4.09% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.90% | 24.21% | -13.31% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.07% | 27.49% | -14.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.59% | 18.26% | -2.67% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.93% | 16.10% | +1.83% |
IDV vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
IDV has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than GLD's 0.40% expense ratio.
Dividends
IDV vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
IDV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.09%, while GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IDV iShares International Select Dividend ETF | 7.09% | 4.94% | 6.46% | 6.51% | 7.33% | 5.78% | 5.47% | 5.15% | 5.93% | 4.52% | 4.69% | 5.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IDV and GLD have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GLD has higher volatility (8.37%) compared to IDV (4.28%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IDV dropped -70.14% vs GLD's -45.56%.
On 10-year performance, GLD leads with 12.33% vs 10.65% for IDV. On fees, GLD is cheaper at 0.40% per year. On volatility, IDV has been the lower-risk option at 4.28%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, GLD has performed better with a 12.33% return vs 10.65%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GLD is cheaper with a 0.40% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for IDV.
IDV has the higher dividend yield at 7.09%, compared with 0.00% for GLD.
IDV is categorized as Global Equities, while GLD is Gold. IDV tracks Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend, while GLD tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for IDV and 0.40% for GLD.
IDV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.73 vs 0.93), 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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