ITA vs. IAU
ITA (iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - ITA is a Aerospace & Defense fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ITA returned 15.66%/yr vs 11.76%/yr for IAU. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ITA charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
ITA vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ITA achieves a 10.04% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -4.73% return. Over the past 10 years, ITA has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 15.66%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 11.76% annualized return.
ITA
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- 4.76%
- YTD
- 10.04%
- 6M
- 7.54%
- 1Y
- 29.57%
- 3Y*
- 28.50%
- 5Y*
- 17.14%
- 10Y*
- 15.66%
IAU
- 1D
- -1.87%
- 1M
- -8.82%
- YTD
- -4.73%
- 6M
- -8.68%
- 1Y
- 21.45%
- 3Y*
- 28.61%
- 5Y*
- 18.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.76%
ITA vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 10.04% | 48.64% | 15.81% | 14.33% | 9.96% | 9.39% | -13.57% | 30.51% | -7.22% | 35.24% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -4.73% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between ITA and IAU is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 5, 2006 | 0.06 |
Over the past year, ITA and IAU have become more correlated (0.28) than their long-term average of 0.06, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
ITA vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
ITA
IAU
ITA vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) 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.
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.
| ITA | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.57 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.87 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.17 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 0.88 | +0.99 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.93 | 2.37 | +2.56 |
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Drawdowns
ITA vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ITA drawdown since its inception was -59.72%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ITA and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ITA | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.72% | -45.14% | -14.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.82% | -24.40% | +8.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.82% | -24.40% | +8.58% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.72% | -24.40% | +5.68% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -51.00% | -24.40% | -26.60% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.72% | -23.87% | +18.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.45% | -15.97% | +6.52% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.01% | 9.07% | -3.06% |
Volatility
ITA vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU) have volatilities of 8.49% and 8.10%, 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
| ITA | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.49% | 8.10% | +0.39% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.48% | 24.23% | -5.75% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.90% | 27.38% | -5.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.23% | 18.18% | +2.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.23% | 15.98% | +7.25% |
ITA vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
ITA has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
ITA vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
ITA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.45%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.45% | 0.55% | 0.85% | 0.93% | 0.95% | 0.82% | 1.07% | 1.54% | 1.13% | 0.91% | 1.07% | 1.04% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ITA and IAU have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ITA has higher volatility (8.49%) compared to IAU (8.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ITA dropped -59.72% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, ITA leads with 15.66% vs 11.76% for IAU. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, IAU has been the lower-risk option at 8.10%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, ITA has performed better with a 15.66% return vs 11.76%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.38% for ITA.
ITA has the higher dividend yield at 0.45%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
ITA is categorized as Aerospace & Defense, while IAU is Gold. ITA tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for ITA and 0.25% for IAU.
ITA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.36 vs 0.79), 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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