IYJ vs. GLD
IYJ (iShares U.S. Industrials ETF) and GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - IYJ is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Industrials Index, while GLD is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IYJ returned 12.54%/yr vs 12.15%/yr for GLD. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IYJ charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for GLD.
Performance
IYJ vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IYJ achieves a 7.60% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's -2.47% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IYJ having a 12.54% annualized return and GLD not far behind at 12.15%.
IYJ
- 1D
- 0.68%
- 1M
- 1.18%
- YTD
- 7.60%
- 6M
- 6.77%
- 1Y
- 16.22%
- 3Y*
- 16.65%
- 5Y*
- 8.44%
- 10Y*
- 12.54%
GLD
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- -9.52%
- YTD
- -2.47%
- 6M
- -2.25%
- 1Y
- 22.21%
- 3Y*
- 28.89%
- 5Y*
- 17.08%
- 10Y*
- 12.15%
IYJ vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYJ iShares U.S. Industrials ETF | 7.60% | 11.94% | 17.82% | 19.94% | -13.53% | 17.02% | 17.37% | 32.27% | -11.69% | 23.98% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | -2.47% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between IYJ and GLD is 0.21, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 18, 2004 | 0.06 |
The correlation between IYJ and GLD shifts across timeframes, from 0.05 (10 years) to 0.21 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IYJ vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank
IYJ
GLD
IYJ vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Industrials ETF (IYJ) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.
| IYJ | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.18 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.24 | 0.98 | +0.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.44 | 2.81 | +1.63 |
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Drawdowns
IYJ vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IYJ drawdown since its inception was -61.97%, which is greater than GLD's maximum drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYJ and GLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IYJ | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -61.97% | -45.56% | -16.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.39% | -24.46% | +13.07% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.67% | -24.46% | +4.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.24% | -24.46% | -1.78% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.20% | -24.46% | -15.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.61% | -22.05% | +20.44% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.20% | -16.16% | +4.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.17% | 8.49% | -5.32% |
Volatility
IYJ vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Industrials ETF (IYJ) is 5.76%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 7.79%. This indicates that IYJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IYJ | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.76% | 7.79% | -2.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.57% | 24.10% | -11.53% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.71% | 27.37% | -11.66% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.14% | 18.22% | -0.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.91% | 16.08% | +3.83% |
IYJ vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
IYJ has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is lower than GLD's 0.40% expense ratio.
Dividends
IYJ vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
IYJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.77%, while GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IYJ iShares U.S. Industrials ETF | 0.77% | 0.83% | 0.88% | 1.05% | 1.05% | 0.76% | 1.01% | 1.32% | 1.43% | 1.29% | 1.38% | 1.53% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IYJ and GLD have a correlation of 0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GLD has higher volatility (7.79%) compared to IYJ (5.76%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYJ dropped -61.97% vs GLD's -45.56%.
On 10-year performance, IYJ leads with 12.54% vs 12.15% for GLD. On fees, IYJ is cheaper at 0.38% per year. On volatility, IYJ has been the lower-risk option at 5.76%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IYJ has performed better with a 12.54% return vs 12.15%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IYJ is cheaper with a 0.38% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for GLD.
IYJ has the higher dividend yield at 0.77%, compared with 0.00% for GLD.
IYJ is categorized as Industrials Equities, while GLD is Gold. IYJ tracks Dow Jones U.S. Industrials Index, while GLD tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for IYJ and 0.40% for GLD.
IYJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.90 vs 0.87), 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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