IYM vs. GOAU
IYM (iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF) and GOAU (US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IYM is a Materials fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Basic Materials Index, while GOAU is a Gold fund tracking the U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IYM returned 8.77%/yr vs 15.29%/yr for GOAU. At a 0.39 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IYM charges 0.42%/yr vs 0.60%/yr for GOAU.
Performance
IYM vs. GOAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IYM achieves a 18.70% return, which is significantly higher than GOAU's -12.48% 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%
GOAU
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- -12.66%
- YTD
- -12.48%
- 6M
- -15.93%
- 1Y
- 30.69%
- 3Y*
- 32.68%
- 5Y*
- 15.29%
- 10Y*
- —
IYM vs. GOAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYM iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF | 18.70% | 20.41% | -4.54% | 12.83% | -9.15% | 25.62% | 17.87% | 19.22% | -16.63% | 16.45% |
GOAU US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF | -12.48% | 126.68% | 13.78% | 10.67% | -11.66% | -9.23% | 14.13% | 54.17% | -11.88% | 7.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between IYM and GOAU is 0.67, 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 | 0.67 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.54 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 28, 2017 | 0.39 |
Over the past year, IYM and GOAU have become more correlated (0.67) than their long-term average of 0.39, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
IYM vs. GOAU — Risk / Return Rank
IYM
GOAU
IYM vs. GOAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM) and US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (GOAU). 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 | GOAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.25 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.15 | +0.14 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.50 | 0.86 | +1.64 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.30 | 2.12 | +7.18 |
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Drawdowns
IYM vs. GOAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IYM drawdown since its inception was -67.78%, which is greater than GOAU's maximum drawdown of -55.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYM and GOAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IYM | GOAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.78% | -55.41% | -12.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.61% | -35.89% | +22.28% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.62% | -35.89% | +12.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.94% | -48.52% | +18.58% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.76% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.83% | -33.74% | +29.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.43% | -18.88% | +7.45% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.65% | 14.53% | -10.88% |
Volatility
IYM vs. GOAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM) is 7.35%, while US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (GOAU) has a volatility of 16.47%. This indicates that IYM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GOAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IYM | GOAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.35% | 16.47% | -9.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.91% | 39.63% | -23.72% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.74% | 47.71% | -27.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.52% | 36.95% | -16.43% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.73% | 35.74% | -14.01% |
IYM vs. GOAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
IYM has a 0.42% expense ratio, which is lower than GOAU's 0.60% expense ratio.
Dividends
IYM vs. GOAU - Dividend Comparison
IYM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.28%, more than GOAU's 1.07% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GOAU US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF | 1.07% | 0.94% | 2.11% | 0.99% | 1.55% | 1.28% | 0.74% | 0.16% | 0.47% | 0.27% | 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 GOAU have a correlation of 0.67, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GOAU has higher volatility (16.47%) compared to IYM (7.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYM dropped -67.78% vs GOAU's -55.41%.
On 5-year performance, GOAU leads with 15.29% vs 8.77% 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 5-year period, GOAU has performed better with a 15.29% return vs 8.77%. 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 0.60% for GOAU.
IYM has the higher dividend yield at 1.28%, compared with 1.07% for GOAU.
IYM is categorized as Materials, while GOAU is Gold. IYM tracks Dow Jones U.S. Basic Materials Index, while GOAU tracks U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and US Global. Their fees differ too: 0.42% for IYM and 0.60% for GOAU.
IYM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.72 vs 0.65), 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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