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REM vs. IAU
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

REM vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

REM (iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - REM is a REIT fund tracking the FTSE NAREIT All Mortgage Capped Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, REM returned 2.55%/yr vs 13.31%/yr for IAU. At a 0.10 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. REM charges 0.48%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

REM vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, REM achieves a -2.10% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 2.98% return. Over the past 10 years, REM has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 2.55%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 13.31% annualized return.

REM

1D
-1.24%
1M
-4.86%
YTD
-2.10%
6M
-2.10%
1Y
11.53%
3Y*
8.00%
5Y*
-2.48%
10Y*
2.55%

IAU

1D
-0.98%
1M
-1.62%
YTD
2.98%
6M
5.50%
1Y
32.20%
3Y*
31.29%
5Y*
18.32%
10Y*
13.31%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

REM vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
REM
iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF		-2.10%13.30%-1.00%14.43%-27.56%16.14%-19.99%21.34%-3.09%18.43%
IAU
iShares Gold Trust		2.98%63.95%26.85%12.84%-0.63%-4.00%25.03%17.98%-1.76%12.91%

Correlation

The correlation between REM and IAU is 0.20, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.20

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.18

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.17

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.11

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since May 7, 2007

0.10

The correlation between REM and IAU shifts across timeframes, from 0.10 (all time) to 0.20 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

REM vs. IAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
REM
IAU

Real Estate

97.2%
100.0%

Financial Services

2.4%

-

Basic Materials

-

-

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Healthcare

-

-

Industrials

-

-

Technology

-

-

Utilities

-

-

Real Estate

REM
97.2%
IAU
100.0%

Financial Services

REM
2.4%
IAU

-

Basic Materials

REM

-

IAU

-

Communication Services

REM

-

IAU

-

Consumer Cyclical

REM

-

IAU

-

Consumer Defensive

REM

-

IAU

-

Energy

REM

-

IAU

-

Healthcare

REM

-

IAU

-

Industrials

REM

-

IAU

-

Technology

REM

-

IAU

-

Utilities

REM

-

IAU

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF

iShares Gold Trust

Often compared with REM:
REM vs. MORTREM vs. VNQREM vs. REETREM vs. IYRREM vs. NLYREM vs. OREM vs. QQQ
Often compared with IAU:
IAU vs. GLDIAU vs. GLDMIAU vs. IAUMIAU vs. SGOLIAU vs. GDXIAU vs. VOOIAU vs. PHYS

Return for Risk

REM vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
REM
REM Risk / Return Rank: 2020
Overall Rank
REM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2020
Sharpe Ratio Rank
REM Sortino Ratio Rank: 2020
Sortino Ratio Rank
REM Omega Ratio Rank: 1919
Omega Ratio Rank
REM Calmar Ratio Rank: 1919
Calmar Ratio Rank
REM Martin Ratio Rank: 2020
Martin Ratio Rank
IAU
IAU Risk / Return Rank: 3232
Overall Rank
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3333
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 2929
Sortino Ratio Rank
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 3636
Omega Ratio Rank
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 3333
Calmar Ratio Rank
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 2929
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

REM vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) 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.

REMIAUDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.69
1.23

-0.53

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.04
1.62

-0.57

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.13

1.24

-0.12

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

0.81

1.69

-0.87

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

2.33

4.19

-1.85

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

REM vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current REM Sharpe Ratio is 0.69, which is lower than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.23. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of REM and IAU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

REMIAUDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.69

1.23

-0.53

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

-0.11

1.03

-1.13

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.09

0.84

-0.75

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

-0.05

0.62

-0.67

Drawdowns

REM vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum REM drawdown since its inception was -74.73%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for REM and IAU.

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Drawdown Indicators

REMIAUDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-74.73%

-45.14%

-29.59%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-14.25%

-19.18%

+4.93%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-21.91%

-19.18%

-2.73%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-43.31%

-20.93%

-22.38%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-68.52%

-21.82%

-46.70%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-23.85%

-17.70%

-6.15%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-38.35%

-15.96%

-22.39%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

4.95%

7.71%

-2.76%

Volatility

REM vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) is 3.81%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.50%. This indicates that REM 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

REMIAUDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.81%

5.50%

-1.69%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.01%

23.02%

-10.01%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

16.85%

26.42%

-9.57%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

23.57%

17.95%

+5.62%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

28.27%

15.90%

+12.37%

REM vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

REM has a 0.48% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.

Dividends

REM vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

REM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.19%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
IAU
iShares Gold Trust		0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
REM
iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF		9.19%8.70%9.61%9.46%11.13%7.29%7.72%8.16%10.00%9.97%10.03%11.99%

Frequently Asked Questions

REM and IAU have a correlation of 0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to REM (3.81%). In terms of maximum drawdown, REM dropped -74.73% vs IAU's -45.14%.

On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 13.31% vs 2.55% for REM. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, REM has been the lower-risk option at 3.81%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, IAU has performed better with a 13.31% return vs 2.55%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.48% for REM.

REM has the higher dividend yield at 9.19%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

REM is categorized as REIT, while IAU is Gold. REM tracks FTSE NAREIT All Mortgage Capped Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.48% for REM and 0.25% for IAU.

IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.23 vs 0.69), 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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