MO vs. GLD
MO (Altria Group, Inc.) is a stock, while GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Over the past 10 years, MO returned 7.92%/yr vs 11.27%/yr for GLD. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
MO vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MO achieves a 33.62% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's -7.24% return. Over the past 10 years, MO has underperformed GLD with an annualized return of 7.92%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively higher 11.27% annualized return.
MO
- 1D
- 0.61%
- 1M
- 8.02%
- 6M
- 24.75%
- YTD
- 33.62%
- 1Y
- 37.41%
- 3Y*
- 27.19%
- 5Y*
- 18.35%
- 10Y*
- 7.92%
- ALL TIME*
- 18.00%
GLD
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- -5.04%
- 6M
- -12.74%
- YTD
- -7.24%
- 1Y
- 19.20%
- 3Y*
- 26.36%
- 5Y*
- 16.85%
- 10Y*
- 11.27%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.24%
MO vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 33.62% | 18.17% | 40.76% | -3.70% | 4.37% | 24.18% | -10.21% | 7.87% | -27.14% | 9.45% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | -7.24% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between MO and GLD is -0.15, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.15 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.03 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 18, 2004 | 0.01 |
The correlation between MO and GLD shifts across timeframes, from -0.15 (1 year) to 0.01 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
MO vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank
MO
GLD
MO vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Altria Group, Inc. (MO) 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.
| MO | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.93 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.15 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.15 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.29 | 0.73 | +1.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.75 | 1.71 | +4.04 |
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Drawdowns
MO vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MO drawdown since its inception was -65.43%, which is greater than GLD's maximum drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MO and GLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MO | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -65.43% | -45.56% | -19.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.40% | -26.40% | +10.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.40% | -26.40% | +10.00% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.83% | -26.40% | +0.57% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -53.69% | -26.40% | -27.29% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -25.87% | +25.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.91% | -16.19% | +4.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.53% | 11.28% | -4.75% |
Volatility
MO vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
Altria Group, Inc. (MO) has a higher volatility of 7.16% compared to SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) at 6.38%. This indicates that MO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier 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
| MO | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.16% | 6.38% | +0.78% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.14% | 24.20% | -6.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.27% | 28.06% | -4.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.82% | 18.42% | +2.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.09% | 16.11% | +6.98% |
Dividends
MO vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
MO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.68%, 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% |
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 5.68% | 7.21% | 7.65% | 9.52% | 8.05% | 7.43% | 8.29% | 6.57% | 6.07% | 3.56% | 3.48% | 3.73% |
Frequently Asked Questions
MO and GLD have a correlation of -0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MO has higher volatility (7.16%) compared to GLD (6.38%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MO dropped -65.43% vs GLD's -45.56%.
MO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.62 vs 0.69), 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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