IYM vs. EART
IYM (iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF) and EART (Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IYM is a Materials fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Basic Materials Index, while EART is a Rare Earth & Strategic Metals fund tracking the Solactive Rare Earth & Critical Materials Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, IYM returned 13.80%/yr vs 18.94%/yr for EART. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IYM charges 0.42%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for EART.
Performance
IYM vs. EART - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IYM achieves a 18.70% return, which is significantly higher than EART's 6.12% return.
IYM
- 1D
- 1.41%
- 1M
- -1.64%
- YTD
- 18.70%
- 6M
- 16.58%
- 1Y
- 33.83%
- 3Y*
- 13.80%
- 5Y*
- 8.77%
- 10Y*
- 11.48%
EART
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- -10.27%
- YTD
- 6.12%
- 6M
- 4.87%
- 1Y
- 83.94%
- 3Y*
- 18.94%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IYM vs. EART - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYM iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF | 18.70% | 20.41% | -4.54% | 12.83% | -2.65% |
EART Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF | 6.12% | 98.48% | -7.19% | -19.75% | -17.92% |
Correlation
The correlation between IYM and EART is 0.69, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.64 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 26, 2022 | 0.68 |
The correlation between IYM and EART has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.64 to 0.69 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IYM vs. EART — Risk / Return Rank
IYM
EART
IYM vs. EART - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM) and Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF (EART). 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.
| IYM | EART | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.41 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.33 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.50 | 3.24 | -0.75 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.30 | 9.20 | +0.10 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IYM vs. EART - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IYM drawdown since its inception was -67.78%, which is greater than EART's maximum drawdown of -53.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYM and EART.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IYM | EART | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.78% | -53.68% | -14.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.61% | -26.03% | +12.42% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.62% | -37.20% | +13.58% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.94% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.76% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.83% | -19.61% | +15.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.43% | -28.97% | +17.54% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.65% | 9.15% | -5.50% |
Volatility
IYM vs. EART - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM) is 7.35%, while Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF (EART) has a volatility of 13.04%. This indicates that IYM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EART based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IYM | EART | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.35% | 13.04% | -5.69% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.91% | 33.41% | -17.50% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.74% | 39.55% | -19.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.52% | 34.25% | -13.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.73% | 34.25% | -12.52% |
IYM vs. EART - Expense Ratio Comparison
IYM has a 0.42% expense ratio, which is lower than EART's 0.59% expense ratio.
Dividends
IYM vs. EART - Dividend Comparison
IYM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.28%, more than EART's 0.61% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EART Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF | 0.61% | 0.65% | 1.06% | 1.83% | 2.04% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IYM iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF | 1.28% | 1.51% | 1.65% | 1.77% | 2.14% | 1.48% | 1.39% | 2.08% | 1.68% | 1.43% | 1.47% | 2.04% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IYM and EART have a correlation of 0.69, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
EART has higher volatility (13.04%) compared to IYM (7.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYM dropped -67.78% vs EART's -53.68%.
On 3-year performance, EART leads with 18.94% vs 13.80% for IYM. On fees, IYM is cheaper at 0.42% per year. On volatility, IYM has been the lower-risk option at 7.35%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, EART has performed better with a 18.94% return vs 13.80%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IYM is cheaper with a 0.42% expense ratio, compared with 0.59% for EART.
IYM has the higher dividend yield at 1.28%, compared with 0.61% for EART.
IYM is categorized as Materials, while EART is Rare Earth & Strategic Metals. IYM tracks Dow Jones U.S. Basic Materials Index, while EART tracks Solactive Rare Earth & Critical Materials Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Global X. Their fees differ too: 0.42% for IYM and 0.59% for EART.
EART currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.13 vs 1.72), 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.
Find the right allocation for IYM and EART
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer