PLG vs. IAU
PLG (Platinum Group Metals Ltd.) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, PLG returned -26.75%/yr vs 11.76%/yr for IAU. At a 0.30 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
PLG vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PLG achieves a -42.37% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's -4.73% return. Over the past 10 years, PLG has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of -26.75%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 11.76% annualized return.
PLG
- 1D
- -2.86%
- 1M
- -15.53%
- YTD
- -42.37%
- 6M
- -52.11%
- 1Y
- -8.72%
- 3Y*
- -0.49%
- 5Y*
- -18.10%
- 10Y*
- -26.75%
IAU
- 1D
- -1.87%
- 1M
- -8.82%
- YTD
- -4.73%
- 6M
- -8.68%
- 1Y
- 21.45%
- 3Y*
- 28.61%
- 5Y*
- 18.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.76%
PLG vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLG Platinum Group Metals Ltd. | -42.37% | 84.37% | 12.28% | -34.48% | 10.13% | -65.95% | 174.56% | 13.42% | -50.99% | -78.74% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -4.73% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between PLG and IAU is 0.58, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | 0.30 |
Over the past year, PLG and IAU have become more correlated (0.58) than their long-term average of 0.30, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
PLG vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
PLG
IAU
PLG vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (PLG) 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.
| PLG | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.89 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.71 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.05 | 1.17 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.14 | 0.88 | -1.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.27 | 2.37 | -2.64 |
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Drawdowns
PLG vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PLG drawdown since its inception was -99.81%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLG and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PLG | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.81% | -45.14% | -54.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -62.07% | -24.40% | -37.67% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -62.07% | -24.40% | -37.67% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -74.19% | -24.40% | -49.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -97.73% | -24.40% | -73.33% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -99.71% | -23.87% | -75.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -68.84% | -15.97% | -52.87% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 32.35% | 9.07% | +23.28% |
Volatility
PLG vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (PLG) has a higher volatility of 24.75% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 8.10%. This indicates that PLG'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
| PLG | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 24.75% | 8.10% | +16.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 60.53% | 24.23% | +36.30% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 82.92% | 27.38% | +55.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 72.19% | 18.18% | +54.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 80.29% | 15.98% | +64.31% |
Dividends
PLG vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither PLG nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
PLG and IAU have a correlation of 0.58, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PLG has higher volatility (24.75%) compared to IAU (8.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PLG dropped -99.81% vs IAU's -45.14%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.79 vs -0.11), 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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