LDRC vs. IAU
LDRC (iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - LDRC is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the BlackRock iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, LDRC returned 4.49% vs 28.33% for IAU. At a 0.15 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. LDRC charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
LDRC vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LDRC achieves a 0.80% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 0.06% return.
LDRC
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- 0.05%
- YTD
- 0.80%
- 6M
- 1.31%
- 1Y
- 4.49%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IAU
- 1D
- -3.63%
- 1M
- -8.02%
- YTD
- 0.06%
- 6M
- 2.63%
- 1Y
- 28.33%
- 3Y*
- 29.73%
- 5Y*
- 17.65%
- 10Y*
- 12.97%
LDRC vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
LDRC iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF | 0.80% | 6.33% | 0.37% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.06% | 63.95% | -2.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between LDRC and IAU is 0.14, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 11, 2024 | 0.15 |
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
LDRC vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
LDRC
IAU
LDRC vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF (LDRC) 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.
| LDRC | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.95 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.22 | +0.22 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.52 | 1.42 | +3.10 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.70 | 3.60 | +9.09 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| LDRC | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.02 | 1.07 | +0.95 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.98 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.82 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.92 | 0.61 | +1.30 |
Drawdowns
LDRC vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LDRC drawdown since its inception was -1.00%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LDRC and IAU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| LDRC | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.00% | -45.14% | +44.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.00% | -20.04% | +19.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -20.04% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -20.93% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -21.82% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.08% | -20.04% | +19.96% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.26% | -15.97% | +15.71% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.35% | 7.89% | -7.54% |
Volatility
LDRC vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF (LDRC) is 0.44%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.64%. This indicates that LDRC 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| LDRC | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.44% | 5.64% | -5.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.49% | 23.33% | -21.84% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.24% | 26.67% | -24.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.51% | 18.01% | -15.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.51% | 15.94% | -13.43% |
LDRC vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
LDRC has a 0.10% 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
LDRC vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
LDRC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.22%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
LDRC iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF | 4.22% | 4.22% | 0.75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
LDRC and IAU have a correlation of 0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (5.64%) compared to LDRC (0.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LDRC dropped -1.00% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 1-year performance, IAU leads with 28.33% vs 4.49% for LDRC. On fees, LDRC is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, LDRC has been the lower-risk option at 0.44%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IAU has performed better with a 28.33% return vs 4.49%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
LDRC is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.
LDRC has the higher dividend yield at 4.22%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
LDRC is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while IAU is Gold. LDRC tracks BlackRock iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for LDRC and 0.25% for IAU.
LDRC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.02 vs 1.07), 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 LDRC and IAU
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