IGLN.L vs. IAU
IGLN.L (iShares Physical Gold ETC) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both Gold funds from iShares tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IGLN.L returned 13.40%/yr vs 13.31%/yr for IAU. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.25% expense ratio.
Performance
IGLN.L vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with IGLN.L having a 3.00% return and IAU slightly lower at 2.98%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IGLN.L having a 13.40% annualized return and IAU not far behind at 13.31%.
IGLN.L
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- -4.23%
- YTD
- 3.00%
- 6M
- 5.09%
- 1Y
- 32.44%
- 3Y*
- 31.11%
- 5Y*
- 18.45%
- 10Y*
- 13.40%
IAU
- 1D
- -0.98%
- 1M
- -1.62%
- YTD
- 2.98%
- 6M
- 5.50%
- 1Y
- 32.20%
- 3Y*
- 31.29%
- 5Y*
- 18.32%
- 10Y*
- 13.31%
IGLN.L vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGLN.L iShares Physical Gold ETC | 3.00% | 64.92% | 26.14% | 13.44% | -0.09% | -4.03% | 24.16% | 18.28% | -1.31% | 11.67% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 2.98% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between IGLN.L and IAU is 0.83, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.83 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.82 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 13, 2011 | 0.76 |
The correlation between IGLN.L and IAU has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.83 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IGLN.L vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
IGLN.L
IAU
IGLN.L vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.L) 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.
| IGLN.L | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.24 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.86 | 1.69 | +0.17 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.85 | 4.19 | +0.67 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IGLN.L | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 1.23 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.06 | 1.03 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 | 0.84 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.45 | 0.62 | -0.17 |
Drawdowns
IGLN.L vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IGLN.L drawdown since its inception was -45.24%, roughly equal to the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IGLN.L and IAU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IGLN.L | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.24% | -45.14% | -0.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.36% | -19.18% | +1.82% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.36% | -19.18% | +1.82% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.15% | -20.93% | -0.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.15% | -21.82% | +0.67% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -16.23% | -17.70% | +1.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.80% | -15.96% | -3.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.66% | 7.71% | -1.05% |
Volatility
IGLN.L vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.L) has a higher volatility of 6.40% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 5.50%. This indicates that IGLN.L'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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IGLN.L | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.40% | 5.50% | +0.90% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.73% | 23.02% | -1.29% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.79% | 26.42% | -1.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.37% | 17.95% | -0.58% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.54% | 15.90% | -0.36% |
IGLN.L vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IGLN.L 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
IGLN.L vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither IGLN.L nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
IGLN.L and IAU have a correlation of 0.83, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
Both ETFs have the same 0.25% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
IGLN.L and IAU have the same expense ratio: 0.25% per year.
Both ETFs track LBMA Gold Price.
Find the right allocation for IGLN.L and IAU
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer