NEAR vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
NEAR and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. NEAR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Sep 25, 2013. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: NEAR or IAU.
Key characteristics
| NEAR | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 4.26% | 25.75% |
| 1Y Return | 6.83% | 33.15% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 3.99% | 11.45% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 2.80% | 11.92% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 2.24% | 7.91% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 3.95 | 2.31 |
| Sortino Ratio | 6.35 | 3.05 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.90 | 1.40 |
| Calmar Ratio | 9.84 | 5.01 |
| Martin Ratio | 27.49 | 14.95 |
| Ulcer Index | 0.25% | 2.27% |
| Daily Std Dev | 1.76% | 14.72% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.60% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -0.67% | -6.78% |
Correlation
The correlation between NEAR and IAU is 0.16, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
NEAR vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, NEAR achieves a 4.26% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 25.75% return. Over the past 10 years, NEAR has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 2.24%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 7.91% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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NEAR vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both NEAR and IAU have an expense ratio of 0.25%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
NEAR vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR) 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.
Dividends
NEAR vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
NEAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.16%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEAR iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF | 5.16% | 4.58% | 1.78% | 0.76% | 1.53% | 2.69% | 2.25% | 1.52% | 1.07% | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.15% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
NEAR vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NEAR drawdown since its inception was -9.60%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NEAR and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
NEAR vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR) is 0.45%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.44%. This indicates that NEAR 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.