IXUS vs. CEF
IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) and CEF (Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust) are both funds - IXUS is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net), while CEF is a Gold fund actively managed by Sprott. IXUS is passively managed, while CEF is actively managed. Over the past 10 years, IXUS returned 10.23%/yr vs 12.56%/yr for CEF. At a 0.24 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IXUS charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.48%/yr for CEF.
Performance
IXUS vs. CEF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IXUS achieves a 13.86% return, which is significantly higher than CEF's -4.91% return. Over the past 10 years, IXUS has underperformed CEF with an annualized return of 10.23%, while CEF has yielded a comparatively higher 12.56% annualized return.
IXUS
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- 3.19%
- YTD
- 13.86%
- 6M
- 15.66%
- 1Y
- 30.13%
- 3Y*
- 18.44%
- 5Y*
- 8.24%
- 10Y*
- 10.23%
CEF
- 1D
- 0.62%
- 1M
- -9.04%
- YTD
- -4.91%
- 6M
- 0.53%
- 1Y
- 40.89%
- 3Y*
- 33.17%
- 5Y*
- 16.96%
- 10Y*
- 12.56%
IXUS vs. CEF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 13.86% | 32.40% | 5.19% | 15.83% | -16.47% | 8.86% | 10.80% | 21.71% | -14.41% | 28.12% |
CEF Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust | -4.91% | 92.76% | 24.07% | 6.80% | 1.07% | -8.32% | 31.99% | 16.91% | -6.34% | 18.78% |
Correlation
The correlation between IXUS and CEF is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 24, 2012 | 0.24 |
Over the past year, IXUS and CEF have become more correlated (0.45) than their long-term average of 0.24, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
IXUS vs. CEF — Risk / Return Rank
IXUS
CEF
IXUS vs. CEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) and Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (CEF). 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.
| IXUS | CEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.97 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.22 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.51 | 1.41 | +1.11 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.67 | 3.72 | +5.96 |
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Drawdowns
IXUS vs. CEF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IXUS drawdown since its inception was -36.22%, smaller than the maximum CEF drawdown of -62.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IXUS and CEF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IXUS | CEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.22% | -62.29% | +26.07% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.36% | -30.01% | +18.65% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.75% | -30.01% | +16.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.03% | -30.01% | -0.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.22% | -30.01% | -6.21% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.57% | -26.45% | +24.88% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.49% | -27.33% | +19.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.95% | 11.35% | -8.40% |
Volatility
IXUS vs. CEF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) is 6.88%, while Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (CEF) has a volatility of 11.51%. This indicates that IXUS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CEF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IXUS | CEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.88% | 11.51% | -4.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.23% | 36.13% | -21.90% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.29% | 38.81% | -22.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.38% | 24.54% | -8.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.12% | 21.96% | -4.84% |
IXUS vs. CEF - Expense Ratio Comparison
IXUS has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than CEF's 0.48% expense ratio.
Dividends
IXUS vs. CEF - Dividend Comparison
IXUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.84%, while CEF has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CEF Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.10% |
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 2.84% | 3.24% | 3.33% | 3.13% | 2.48% | 3.12% | 1.85% | 3.09% | 3.00% | 2.41% | 2.58% | 2.81% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IXUS and CEF have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CEF has higher volatility (11.51%) compared to IXUS (6.88%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IXUS dropped -36.22% vs CEF's -62.29%.
IXUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.75 vs 1.09), 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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