IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L
IGLN.L (iShares Physical Gold ETC) and XGLD.L (Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC) are both Gold funds - IGLN.L tracks the LBMA Gold Price while XGLD.L tracks the Gold. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IGLN.L returned 11.58%/yr vs 11.49%/yr for XGLD.L. With a 0.99 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. IGLN.L charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for XGLD.L.
Performance
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with IGLN.L having a -6.13% return and XGLD.L slightly higher at -6.12%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IGLN.L having a 11.58% annualized return and XGLD.L not far behind at 11.49%.
IGLN.L
- 1D
- -0.82%
- 1M
- -7.02%
- 6M
- -12.44%
- YTD
- -6.13%
- 1Y
- 21.47%
- 3Y*
- 27.22%
- 5Y*
- 17.30%
- 10Y*
- 11.58%
XGLD.L
- 1D
- -0.88%
- 1M
- -7.03%
- 6M
- -12.51%
- YTD
- -6.12%
- 1Y
- 21.12%
- 3Y*
- 27.05%
- 5Y*
- 17.15%
- 10Y*
- 11.49%
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGLN.L iShares Physical Gold ETC | -6.13% | 64.93% | 26.14% | 13.44% | -0.09% | -4.03% | 24.16% | 18.30% | -1.33% | 11.69% |
XGLD.L Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC | -6.12% | 64.60% | 25.87% | 13.37% | -0.24% | -4.19% | 24.11% | 18.35% | -1.36% | 11.68% |
Correlation
The correlation between IGLN.L and XGLD.L is 0.99 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 8, 2011 | 0.99 |
The correlation between IGLN.L and XGLD.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.99 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L — Risk / Return Rank
IGLN.L
XGLD.L
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.L) and Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC (XGLD.L). 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.
| IGLN.L | XGLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.16 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.88 | 0.86 | +0.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.15 | 2.08 | +0.07 |
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Drawdowns
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IGLN.L drawdown since its inception was -45.25%, roughly equal to the maximum XGLD.L drawdown of -45.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IGLN.L and XGLD.L.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IGLN.L | XGLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.25% | -45.34% | +0.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.39% | -24.53% | +0.14% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.39% | -24.53% | +0.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.39% | -24.53% | +0.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.39% | -24.53% | +0.14% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -23.66% | -23.91% | +0.25% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.73% | -18.96% | -0.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.97% | 10.12% | -0.15% |
Volatility
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L - Volatility Comparison
iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.L) and Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC (XGLD.L) have volatilities of 7.59% and 7.34%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IGLN.L | XGLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.59% | 7.34% | +0.25% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.02% | 23.02% | 0.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.39% | 26.36% | +0.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.79% | 17.63% | +0.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.74% | 15.65% | +0.09% |
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
IGLN.L has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is lower than XGLD.L's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IGLN.L vs. XGLD.L - Dividend Comparison
Neither IGLN.L nor XGLD.L has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.99, IGLN.L and XGLD.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
On fees, IGLN.L is cheaper at 0.12% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
IGLN.L is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for XGLD.L.
IGLN.L tracks LBMA Gold Price, while XGLD.L tracks Gold. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Xtrackers. Their fees differ too: 0.12% for IGLN.L and 0.25% for XGLD.L.
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