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 7.93%/yr vs 12.15%/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 26.86% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's -2.47% return. Over the past 10 years, MO has underperformed GLD with an annualized return of 7.93%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively higher 12.15% annualized return.
MO
- 1D
- 0.74%
- 1M
- 0.56%
- YTD
- 26.86%
- 6M
- 26.78%
- 1Y
- 28.51%
- 3Y*
- 25.73%
- 5Y*
- 16.36%
- 10Y*
- 7.93%
GLD
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- -10.21%
- YTD
- -2.47%
- 6M
- -2.25%
- 1Y
- 23.81%
- 3Y*
- 28.89%
- 5Y*
- 17.08%
- 10Y*
- 12.15%
MO vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 26.86% | 18.17% | 40.76% | -3.70% | 4.37% | 24.18% | -10.21% | 7.87% | -27.14% | 9.45% |
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 MO and GLD is -0.13, 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 | -0.13 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.01 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
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 -0.13 (1 year) to 0.03 (5 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 | +0.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.18 | +0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.75 | 0.98 | +0.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.39 | 2.81 | +1.58 |
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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% | -24.46% | +8.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.40% | -24.46% | +8.06% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.83% | -24.46% | -1.37% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -53.69% | -24.46% | -29.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.50% | -22.05% | +18.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.92% | -16.16% | +4.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.50% | 8.49% | -1.99% |
Volatility
MO vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Altria Group, Inc. (MO) is 6.71%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 7.79%. This indicates that MO 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
| MO | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.71% | 7.79% | -1.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.60% | 24.10% | -6.50% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.59% | 27.37% | -4.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.68% | 18.22% | +2.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.97% | 16.08% | +6.89% |
Dividends
MO vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
MO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.84%, 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. | 5.84% | 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 -0.13, 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 MO (6.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MO dropped -65.43% vs GLD's -45.56%.
MO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.27 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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