PPLT vs. SGOL
PPLT (abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF) and SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PPLT is a Precious Metals fund tracking the LBMA Platinum Price PM, while SGOL is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, PPLT returned 4.70%/yr vs 11.79%/yr for SGOL. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PPLT charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for SGOL.
Performance
PPLT vs. SGOL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PPLT achieves a -19.76% return, which is significantly lower than SGOL's -4.70% return. Over the past 10 years, PPLT has underperformed SGOL with an annualized return of 4.70%, while SGOL has yielded a comparatively higher 11.79% annualized return.
PPLT
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- -14.37%
- YTD
- -19.76%
- 6M
- -28.09%
- 1Y
- 27.10%
- 3Y*
- 20.79%
- 5Y*
- 7.90%
- 10Y*
- 4.70%
SGOL
- 1D
- -1.86%
- 1M
- -8.83%
- YTD
- -4.70%
- 6M
- -8.63%
- 1Y
- 21.55%
- 3Y*
- 28.71%
- 5Y*
- 18.11%
- 10Y*
- 11.79%
PPLT vs. SGOL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPLT abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF | -19.76% | 124.48% | -8.90% | -8.18% | 10.43% | -10.75% | 10.78% | 20.85% | -14.95% | 2.38% |
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -4.70% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
Correlation
The correlation between PPLT and SGOL is 0.68, 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 | 0.68 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.56 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 8, 2010 | 0.59 |
The correlation between PPLT and SGOL shifts across timeframes, from 0.56 (10 years) to 0.68 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PPLT vs. SGOL — Risk / Return Rank
PPLT
SGOL
PPLT vs. SGOL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) 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.
| PPLT | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.17 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.67 | 0.89 | -0.22 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.48 | 2.38 | -0.90 |
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Drawdowns
PPLT vs. SGOL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PPLT drawdown since its inception was -70.73%, which is greater than SGOL's maximum drawdown of -45.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PPLT and SGOL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PPLT | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -70.73% | -45.51% | -25.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -40.69% | -24.37% | -16.32% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -40.69% | -24.37% | -16.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -40.69% | -24.37% | -16.32% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -51.14% | -24.37% | -26.77% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -40.69% | -23.85% | -16.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -39.93% | -18.42% | -21.51% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 18.34% | 9.06% | +9.28% |
Volatility
PPLT vs. SGOL - Volatility Comparison
abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) has a higher volatility of 11.41% compared to abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) at 8.11%. This indicates that PPLT'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
| PPLT | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.41% | 8.11% | +3.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 45.28% | 24.14% | +21.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 50.70% | 27.28% | +23.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 32.68% | 18.13% | +14.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.18% | 16.00% | +13.18% |
PPLT vs. SGOL - Expense Ratio Comparison
PPLT has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SGOL's 0.17% expense ratio.
Dividends
PPLT vs. SGOL - Dividend Comparison
Neither PPLT nor SGOL has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
PPLT and SGOL have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PPLT has higher volatility (11.41%) compared to SGOL (8.11%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PPLT dropped -70.73% vs SGOL's -45.51%.
On 10-year performance, SGOL leads with 11.79% vs 4.70% for PPLT. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, SGOL has been the lower-risk option at 8.11%. 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 11.79% return vs 4.70%. 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 0.60% for PPLT.
PPLT and SGOL have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
PPLT is categorized as Precious Metals, while SGOL is Gold. PPLT tracks LBMA Platinum Price PM, while SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). Their fees differ too: 0.60% for PPLT and 0.17% for SGOL.
SGOL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.79 vs 0.54), 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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