IGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X
IGLN.L (iShares Physical Gold ETC) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price, while XAUUSD=X (Gold Spot Price US Dollar) is a currency. Over the past 10 years, IGLN.L returned 13.42%/yr vs 13.28%/yr for XAUUSD=X. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
IGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IGLN.L achieves a 3.70% return, which is significantly higher than XAUUSD=X's 0.12% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IGLN.L having a 13.42% annualized return and XAUUSD=X not far behind at 13.28%.
IGLN.L
- 1D
- 0.68%
- 1M
- -4.75%
- YTD
- 3.70%
- 6M
- 6.00%
- 1Y
- 33.05%
- 3Y*
- 31.55%
- 5Y*
- 18.61%
- 10Y*
- 13.42%
XAUUSD=X
- 1D
- -3.29%
- 1M
- -7.74%
- YTD
- 0.12%
- 6M
- 3.08%
- 1Y
- 29.08%
- 3Y*
- 30.14%
- 5Y*
- 18.01%
- 10Y*
- 13.28%
IGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGLN.L iShares Physical Gold ETC | 3.70% | 64.92% | 26.14% | 13.44% | -0.09% | -4.03% | 24.16% | 18.28% | -1.31% | 11.67% |
XAUUSD=X Gold Spot Price US Dollar | 0.12% | 64.75% | 27.24% | 13.14% | -0.25% | -3.50% | 24.55% | 18.77% | -1.71% | 13.14% |
Correlation
The correlation between IGLN.L and XAUUSD=X is 0.68, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.74 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 13, 2011 | 0.75 |
The correlation between IGLN.L and XAUUSD=X has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.68 to 0.76 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X — Risk / Return Rank
IGLN.L
XAUUSD=X
IGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.L) and Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X). 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 | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.30 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.21 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.86 | 1.14 | +0.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.79 | 2.87 | +1.92 |
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
| IGLN.L | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 1.00 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.07 | 0.97 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 | 0.82 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.46 | 0.58 | -0.13 |
Drawdowns
IGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IGLN.L drawdown since its inception was -45.24%, roughly equal to the maximum XAUUSD=X drawdown of -44.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IGLN.L and XAUUSD=X.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IGLN.L | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.24% | -44.69% | -0.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.36% | -20.13% | +2.77% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.36% | -20.13% | +2.77% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.15% | -20.81% | -0.34% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.15% | -21.35% | +0.20% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -15.66% | -20.13% | +4.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.80% | -16.42% | -3.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.74% | 8.77% | -2.03% |
Volatility
IGLN.L vs. XAUUSD=X - Volatility Comparison
iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.L) has a higher volatility of 6.36% compared to Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X) at 5.61%. This indicates that IGLN.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XAUUSD=X based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IGLN.L | XAUUSD=X | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.36% | 5.61% | +0.75% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.73% | 21.67% | +0.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.78% | 22.90% | +1.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.36% | 16.58% | +0.78% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.54% | 15.11% | +0.43% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IGLN.L and XAUUSD=X have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
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