PANW vs. IAU
PANW (Palo Alto Networks, Inc.) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, PANW returned 29.12%/yr vs 12.31%/yr for IAU. At a correlation of -0.00, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
PANW vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PANW achieves a 51.80% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -2.44% return. Over the past 10 years, PANW has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 29.12%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 12.31% annualized return.
PANW
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- 17.38%
- YTD
- 51.80%
- 6M
- 45.87%
- 1Y
- 42.47%
- 3Y*
- 33.77%
- 5Y*
- 35.61%
- 10Y*
- 29.12%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -9.54%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 22.32%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
PANW vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PANW Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | 51.80% | 1.23% | 23.41% | 111.32% | -24.81% | 56.66% | 53.68% | 22.78% | 29.95% | 15.91% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -2.44% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between PANW and IAU is 0.02, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 20, 2012 | -0.00 |
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Return for Risk
PANW vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
PANW
IAU
PANW vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) 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.
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.
| PANW | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.32 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.19 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.16 | 0.99 | +0.17 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.62 | 2.83 | -0.21 |
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Drawdowns
PANW vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PANW drawdown since its inception was -47.98%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PANW and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PANW | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -47.98% | -45.14% | -2.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -36.01% | -24.40% | -11.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -36.01% | -24.40% | -11.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.01% | -24.40% | -11.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.98% | -24.40% | -23.58% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.94% | -22.03% | +15.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.68% | -15.97% | +1.29% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.87% | 8.47% | +7.40% |
Volatility
PANW vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) has a higher volatility of 16.97% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 7.70%. This indicates that PANW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PANW | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 16.97% | 7.70% | +9.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 32.33% | 23.94% | +8.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 38.96% | 27.17% | +11.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 41.72% | 18.16% | +23.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.62% | 16.02% | +22.60% |
Dividends
PANW vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither PANW nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
PANW and IAU have a correlation of 0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PANW has higher volatility (16.97%) compared to IAU (7.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PANW dropped -47.98% vs IAU's -45.14%.
PANW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.07 vs 0.89), 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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