PYPL vs. IAU
PYPL (PayPal Holdings, Inc.) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, PYPL returned 1.21%/yr vs 12.31%/yr for IAU. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
PYPL vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PYPL achieves a -28.41% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's -2.44% return. Over the past 10 years, PYPL has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 1.21%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 12.31% annualized return.
PYPL
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- -6.18%
- YTD
- -28.41%
- 6M
- -32.22%
- 1Y
- -40.86%
- 3Y*
- -12.98%
- 5Y*
- -31.18%
- 10Y*
- 1.21%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -7.39%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 22.32%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
PYPL vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PYPL PayPal Holdings, Inc. | -28.41% | -31.44% | 38.98% | -13.77% | -62.23% | -19.48% | 116.51% | 28.64% | 14.22% | 86.52% |
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 PYPL and IAU is 0.04, 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 | 0.04 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 20, 2015 | 0.03 |
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Return for Risk
PYPL vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
PYPL
IAU
PYPL vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) 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.
| PYPL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.78 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.79 | 1.19 | -0.40 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.88 | 0.99 | -1.87 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.54 | 2.83 | -4.37 |
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Drawdowns
PYPL vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PYPL drawdown since its inception was -87.30%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PYPL and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PYPL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -87.30% | -45.14% | -42.16% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -49.92% | -24.40% | -25.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -57.34% | -24.40% | -32.94% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -87.30% | -24.40% | -62.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -87.30% | -24.40% | -62.90% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -86.42% | -22.03% | -64.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -35.90% | -15.97% | -19.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 28.60% | 8.47% | +20.13% |
Volatility
PYPL vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) is 7.01%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 7.70%. This indicates that PYPL 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.
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Volatility by Period
| PYPL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.01% | 7.70% | -0.69% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 31.72% | 23.94% | +7.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 39.10% | 27.17% | +11.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 42.08% | 18.16% | +23.92% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.77% | 16.02% | +22.75% |
Dividends
PYPL vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
PYPL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.01%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PYPL PayPal Holdings, Inc. | 1.01% | 0.24% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PYPL and IAU have a correlation of 0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (7.70%) compared to PYPL (7.01%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PYPL dropped -87.30% vs IAU's -45.14%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs -1.13), 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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