OASC vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

OASC (OneAscent Enhanced Small and Mid Cap ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - OASC is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Oneascent, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. OASC is actively managed, while IAU is passively managed. Over the past year, OASC returned 36.18% vs 32.20% for IAU. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. OASC charges 0.69%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

OASC vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in OneAscent Enhanced Small and Mid Cap ETF (OASC) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, OASC achieves a 16.43% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 2.98% return.

OASC

• 1D: -0.70%
• 1M: 3.98%
• YTD: 16.43%
• 6M: 17.89%
• 1Y: 36.18%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

IAU

• 1D: -0.98%
• 1M: -1.62%
• YTD: 2.98%
• 6M: 5.50%
• 1Y: 32.20%
• 3Y*: 31.29%
• 5Y*: 18.32%
• 10Y*: 13.31%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

OASC vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
OASC OneAscent Enhanced Small and Mid Cap ETF	16.43%	8.91%	10.35%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	2.98%	63.95%	13.74%

Correlation

The correlation between OASC and IAU is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.17
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 14, 2024	0.11

OASC vs. IAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	OASC	IAU
Technology	25.1%	-
Financial Services	23.4%	-
Healthcare	12.6%	-
Consumer Cyclical	11.5%	-
Industrials	11.3%	-
Basic Materials	5.3%	-
Energy	3.6%	-
Utilities	2.2%	-
Real Estate	2.1%	100.0%
Consumer Defensive	1.6%	-
Communication Services	1.3%	-

Return for Risk

OASC vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

OASC

OASC Risk / Return Rank: 70
OASC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 61
OASC Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
OASC Omega Ratio Rank: 57
OASC Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
OASC Martin Ratio Rank: 81

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 32
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 33
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 36
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 33
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 29

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

OASC vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for OneAscent Enhanced Small and Mid Cap ETF (OASC) 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.

	OASC	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.02	1.23	+0.80
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.91	1.62	+1.29
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.34	1.24	+0.10
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.74	1.69	+3.05
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.82	4.19	+11.63
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

OASC vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current OASC Sharpe Ratio is 2.02, which is higher than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.23. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of OASC and IAU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	OASC	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.02	1.23	+0.80
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	1.03	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.84	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.90	0.62	+0.27

Drawdowns

OASC vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OASC drawdown since its inception was -27.00%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OASC and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	OASC	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-27.00%	-45.14%	+18.14%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.67%	-19.18%	+11.51%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-19.18%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-20.93%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-21.82%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.70%	-17.70%	+17.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.06%	-15.96%	+9.90%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.29%	7.71%	-5.42%

Volatility

OASC vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for OneAscent Enhanced Small and Mid Cap ETF (OASC) is 5.13%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.50%. This indicates that OASC 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.

Volatility by Period

	OASC	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.13%	5.50%	-0.37%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.22%	23.02%	-10.80%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.04%	26.42%	-8.38%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.95%	17.95%	+3.00%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.95%	15.90%	+5.05%

OASC vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

OASC has a 0.69% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.

Dividends

OASC vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

OASC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.46%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
OASC OneAscent Enhanced Small and Mid Cap ETF	0.46%	0.53%	0.46%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both OASC and IAU in my portfolio?

OASC and IAU have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, OASC or IAU?

IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to OASC (5.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OASC dropped -27.00% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, OASC or IAU?

On 1-year performance, OASC leads with 36.18% vs 32.20% for IAU. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, OASC has been the lower-risk option at 5.13%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, OASC or IAU?

Over the 1-year period, OASC has performed better with a 36.18% return vs 32.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, OASC or IAU?

IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.69% for OASC.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, OASC or IAU?

OASC has the higher dividend yield at 0.46%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between OASC and IAU?

OASC is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while IAU is Gold. They also come from different issuers: Oneascent and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.69% for OASC and 0.25% for IAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

OASC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.02 vs 1.23), 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.