PWR vs. GLD

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

PWR (Quanta Services, Inc.) is a stock, while GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Over the past 10 years, PWR returned 41.34%/yr vs 12.33%/yr for GLD. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

PWR vs. GLD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PWR achieves a 71.70% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's 0.06% return. Over the past 10 years, PWR has outperformed GLD with an annualized return of 41.34%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively lower 12.33% annualized return.

PWR

• 1D: 2.35%
• 1M: -5.93%
• YTD: 71.70%
• 6M: 66.26%
• 1Y: 102.38%
• 3Y*: 57.55%
• 5Y*: 51.64%
• 10Y*: 41.34%

GLD

• 1D: 2.59%
• 1M: -4.97%
• YTD: 0.06%
• 6M: 0.19%
• 1Y: 25.38%
• 3Y*: 29.73%
• 5Y*: 18.31%
• 10Y*: 12.33%

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

PWR vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.	71.70%	33.70%	46.60%	51.70%	24.63%	59.50%	77.74%	35.84%	-22.93%	12.22%
GLD SPDR Gold Shares	0.06%	63.68%	26.66%	12.69%	-0.77%	-4.15%	24.81%	17.86%	-1.94%	12.81%

Correlation

The correlation between PWR and GLD 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 (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.13
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.10
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.04
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 18, 2004	0.06

The correlation between PWR and GLD shifts across timeframes, from 0.04 (10 years) to 0.17 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

PWR vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank

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

PWR

PWR Risk / Return Rank: 94
PWR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
PWR Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
PWR Omega Ratio Rank: 92
PWR Calmar Ratio Rank: 94
PWR Martin Ratio Rank: 95

GLD

GLD Risk / Return Rank: 27
GLD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 28
GLD Sortino Ratio Rank: 26
GLD Omega Ratio Rank: 31
GLD Calmar Ratio Rank: 24
GLD Martin Ratio Rank: 24

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.

PWR vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.

	PWR	GLD	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.77	0.93	+1.84
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.43	1.30	+2.13
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.46	1.19	+0.26
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	6.02	1.04	+4.98
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	18.91	2.97	+15.94

PWR vs. GLD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PWR Sharpe Ratio is 2.77, which is higher than the GLD Sharpe Ratio of 0.93. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PWR and GLD, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

PWR vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PWR drawdown since its inception was -97.07%, which is greater than GLD's maximum drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PWR and GLD.

Drawdown Indicators

	PWR	GLD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-97.07%	-45.56%	-51.51%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-17.11%	-24.46%	+7.35%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-33.89%	-24.46%	-9.43%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-33.89%	-24.46%	-9.43%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-45.53%	-24.46%	-21.07%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.75%	-20.03%	+12.28%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-46.83%	-16.16%	-30.67%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.43%	8.59%	-3.16%

Volatility

PWR vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison

Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) has a higher volatility of 13.30% compared to SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) at 8.37%. This indicates that PWR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PWR	GLD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	13.30%	8.37%	+4.93%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	30.80%	24.21%	+6.59%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	37.25%	27.49%	+9.76%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	35.82%	18.26%	+17.56%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	33.80%	16.10%	+17.70%

Dividends

PWR vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison

PWR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.06%, while GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
GLD SPDR Gold Shares	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.	0.06%	0.09%	0.09%	0.15%	0.25%	0.16%	0.29%	0.42%	0.13%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PWR and GLD in my portfolio?

PWR and GLD 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, PWR or GLD?

PWR has higher volatility (13.30%) compared to GLD (8.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PWR dropped -97.07% vs GLD's -45.56%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PWR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.77 vs 0.93), 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.