IXUS vs. IAU
IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - IXUS is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net), while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IXUS returned 10.21%/yr vs 11.76%/yr for IAU. At a 0.19 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IXUS charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
IXUS vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IXUS achieves a 12.74% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -4.73% return. Over the past 10 years, IXUS has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 10.21%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 11.76% annualized return.
IXUS
- 1D
- -3.08%
- 1M
- 0.45%
- YTD
- 12.74%
- 6M
- 12.52%
- 1Y
- 29.41%
- 3Y*
- 19.01%
- 5Y*
- 8.29%
- 10Y*
- 10.21%
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%
IXUS vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 12.74% | 32.40% | 5.19% | 15.83% | -16.47% | 8.86% | 10.80% | 21.71% | -14.41% | 28.12% |
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 IXUS and IAU is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 24, 2012 | 0.19 |
Over the past year, IXUS and IAU have become more correlated (0.44) than their long-term average of 0.19, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
IXUS vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
IXUS
IAU
IXUS vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) 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.
| IXUS | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.00 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.30 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.17 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.60 | 0.88 | +1.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.00 | 2.37 | +7.63 |
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Drawdowns
IXUS vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IXUS drawdown since its inception was -36.22%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IXUS and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IXUS | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.22% | -45.14% | +8.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.36% | -24.40% | +13.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.75% | -24.40% | +10.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.03% | -24.40% | -5.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.22% | -24.40% | -11.82% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.08% | -23.87% | +20.79% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.48% | -15.97% | +8.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.95% | 9.07% | -6.12% |
Volatility
IXUS vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) is 7.22%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 8.10%. This indicates that IXUS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IXUS | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.22% | 8.10% | -0.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.64% | 24.23% | -9.59% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.56% | 27.38% | -10.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.45% | 18.18% | -1.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.97% | 15.98% | +0.99% |
IXUS vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
IXUS has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than IAU'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
IXUS vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
IXUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.98%, 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% |
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 2.98% | 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 IAU have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (8.10%) compared to IXUS (7.22%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IXUS dropped -36.22% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 11.76% vs 10.21% for IXUS. On fees, IXUS is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, IXUS has been the lower-risk option at 7.22%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IAU has performed better with a 11.76% return vs 10.21%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IXUS is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.
IXUS has the higher dividend yield at 2.98%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
IXUS is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while IAU is Gold. IXUS tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net), while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IXUS and 0.25% for IAU.
IXUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.79 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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