NLR vs. SGOL
NLR (VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF) and SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NLR is a Uranium fund tracking the MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index, while SGOL is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, NLR returned 10.96%/yr vs 11.62%/yr for SGOL. Their 0.22 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. NLR charges 0.56%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for SGOL.
Performance
NLR vs. SGOL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NLR achieves a -12.96% return, which is significantly lower than SGOL's -6.06% return. Over the past 10 years, NLR has underperformed SGOL with an annualized return of 10.96%, while SGOL has yielded a comparatively higher 11.62% annualized return.
NLR
- 1D
- -2.97%
- 1M
- -7.91%
- 6M
- -29.25%
- YTD
- -12.96%
- 1Y
- -8.40%
- 3Y*
- 23.96%
- 5Y*
- 18.37%
- 10Y*
- 10.96%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.36%
SGOL
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- 0.65%
- 6M
- -18.71%
- YTD
- -6.06%
- 1Y
- 21.20%
- 3Y*
- 27.11%
- 5Y*
- 17.42%
- 10Y*
- 11.62%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.34%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $52.35M | $49.22M | $61.68M | |
| $79.87M | $79.24M | $102.39M |
NLR vs. SGOL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NLR VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF | -12.96% | 56.50% | 14.26% | 36.67% | 2.29% | 13.63% | 3.49% | 0.20% | 4.94% | 8.25% |
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -6.06% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
Correlation
The correlation between NLR and SGOL is 0.44, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.33 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.31 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.23 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2009 | 0.22 |
Over the past year, NLR and SGOL have become more correlated (0.44) than their long-term average of 0.22, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
NLR vs. SGOL — Risk / Return Rank
NLR
SGOL
NLR vs. SGOL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR) and abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL). 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.
| NLR | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.91 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.15 | -0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.22 | 0.77 | -0.99 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.48 | 1.73 | -2.21 |
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Drawdowns
NLR vs. SGOL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NLR drawdown since its inception was -65.05%, which is greater than SGOL's maximum drawdown of -45.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NLR and SGOL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NLR | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -65.05% | -45.51% | -19.54% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -36.61% | -26.32% | -10.29% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -36.61% | -26.32% | -10.29% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.61% | -26.32% | -10.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.61% | -26.32% | -10.29% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -34.23% | -24.94% | -9.29% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -35.67% | -18.45% | -17.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 16.73% | 11.64% | +5.09% |
Volatility
NLR vs. SGOL - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR) has a higher volatility of 10.60% compared to abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) at 6.07%. This indicates that NLR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SGOL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NLR | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.60% | 6.07% | +4.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 32.75% | 23.69% | +9.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 43.30% | 27.79% | +15.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 29.96% | 18.34% | +11.62% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.47% | 16.08% | +8.39% |
NLR vs. SGOL - Expense Ratio Comparison
NLR has a 0.56% expense ratio, which is higher than SGOL's 0.17% expense ratio.
Dividends
NLR vs. SGOL - Dividend Comparison
NLR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.93%, while SGOL has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NLR VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF | 2.93% | 2.55% | 0.76% | 4.54% | 2.02% | 1.99% | 2.23% | 2.21% | 3.91% | 4.86% | 3.62% | 3.30% |
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NLR and SGOL have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NLR has higher volatility (10.60%) compared to SGOL (6.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NLR dropped -65.05% vs SGOL's -45.51%.
On 10-year performance, SGOL leads with 11.62% vs 10.96% for NLR. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, SGOL has been the lower-risk option at 6.07%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SGOL has performed better with a 11.62% return vs 10.96%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SGOL is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.56% for NLR.
NLR has the higher dividend yield at 2.93%, compared with 0.00% for SGOL.
NLR is categorized as Uranium, while SGOL is Gold. NLR tracks MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index, while SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). They also come from different issuers: VanEck and abrdn. Their fees differ too: 0.56% for NLR and 0.17% for SGOL.
SGOL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.73 vs -0.19), 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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