IEF vs. GC=F

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

IEF (iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF) is Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index, while GC=F (Gold Futures) is an asset. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

IEF vs. GC=F - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) and Gold Futures (GC=F). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

IEF

• 1D: -0.11%
• 1M: -1.19%
• YTD: -1.16%
• 6M: -0.96%
• 1Y: 3.91%
• 3Y*: 2.43%
• 5Y*: -1.34%
• 10Y*: 0.53%

GC=F

• 1D: —
• 1M: —
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IEF vs. GC=F - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF	-1.16%	8.03%	-0.63%	3.64%	-13.32%
GC=F Gold Futures	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	5.91%

Correlation

The correlation between IEF and GC=F is 0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 1, 2022	0.06

Return for Risk

IEF vs. GC=F — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

IEF

IEF Risk / Return Rank: 24
IEF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 26
IEF Sortino Ratio Rank: 25
IEF Omega Ratio Rank: 23
IEF Calmar Ratio Rank: 23
IEF Martin Ratio Rank: 23

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.

IEF vs. GC=F - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) and Gold Futures (GC=F). 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.

	IEF	GC=F	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.84	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.26	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.14	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.96	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.79	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	IEF	GC=F	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.84	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.17	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.08	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.50	—	—

Drawdowns

Drawdown Indicators

	IEF	GC=F	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-23.93%	—	—
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.07%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-7.74%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.40%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-23.93%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-11.80%	—	—
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.35%	—	—
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.40%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	IEF	GC=F	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.51%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.36%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.69%	—	—
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.71%	—	—
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	6.63%	—	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IEF and GC=F in my portfolio?

IEF and GC=F have a correlation of 0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.