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RGLD vs. IAU
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

RGLD vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

RGLD (Royal Gold, Inc.) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, RGLD returned 13.61%/yr vs 12.31%/yr for IAU. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

RGLD vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

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

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, RGLD achieves a -6.25% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's -2.44% return. Over the past 10 years, RGLD has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 13.61%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 12.31% annualized return.

RGLD

1D
1.47%
1M
-15.27%
YTD
-6.25%
6M
-4.74%
1Y
16.96%
3Y*
21.73%
5Y*
12.37%
10Y*
13.61%

IAU

1D
0.08%
1M
-10.21%
YTD
-2.44%
6M
-2.22%
1Y
23.95%
3Y*
29.07%
5Y*
17.23%
10Y*
12.31%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

RGLD vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
RGLD
Royal Gold, Inc.		-6.25%70.43%10.39%8.70%8.51%0.04%-12.13%44.27%5.53%31.32%
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 RGLD and IAU is 0.69, 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

0.69

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

0.68

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

0.66

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

0.63

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005

0.63

The correlation between RGLD and IAU has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.63 to 0.69 - a consistent structural relationship.

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Royal Gold, Inc.

iShares Gold Trust

Often compared with RGLD:
RGLD vs. FNVRGLD vs. SPYRGLD vs. GLDRGLD vs. GOLDRGLD vs. NEMRGLD vs. GLDMRGLD vs. SCHD
Often compared with IAU:
IAU vs. GLDIAU vs. GLDMIAU vs. IAUMIAU vs. SGOLIAU vs. GDXIAU vs. VOOIAU vs. PHYS

Return for Risk

RGLD vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
RGLD
RGLD Risk / Return Rank: 5454
Overall Rank
RGLD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5858
Sharpe Ratio Rank
RGLD Sortino Ratio Rank: 5252
Sortino Ratio Rank
RGLD Omega Ratio Rank: 5252
Omega Ratio Rank
RGLD Calmar Ratio Rank: 5454
Calmar Ratio Rank
RGLD Martin Ratio Rank: 5656
Martin Ratio Rank
IAU
IAU Risk / Return Rank: 2626
Overall Rank
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2828
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 2525
Sortino Ratio Rank
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 3030
Omega Ratio Rank
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 2424
Calmar Ratio Rank
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 2424
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.

RGLD vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) 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.

RGLDIAUDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.43
0.89

-0.45

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
0.81
1.25

-0.43

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.11

1.19

-0.08

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

0.48

0.99

-0.50

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

1.27

2.83

-1.56

RGLD vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current RGLD Sharpe Ratio is 0.43, which is lower than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 0.89. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of RGLD 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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Drawdowns

RGLD vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RGLD drawdown since its inception was -98.29%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RGLD and IAU.

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Drawdown Indicators

RGLDIAUDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-98.29%

-45.14%

-53.15%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-35.12%

-24.40%

-10.72%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-35.12%

-24.40%

-10.72%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-40.73%

-24.40%

-16.33%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-49.55%

-24.40%

-25.15%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-31.66%

-22.03%

-9.63%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-29.82%

-15.97%

-13.85%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

13.34%

8.47%

+4.87%

Volatility

RGLD vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) has a higher volatility of 12.33% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 7.70%. This indicates that RGLD'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

RGLDIAUDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

12.33%

7.70%

+4.63%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

32.22%

23.94%

+8.28%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

39.34%

27.17%

+12.17%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

31.58%

18.16%

+13.42%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

33.66%

16.02%

+17.64%

Dividends

RGLD vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

RGLD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.89%, 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%
RGLD
Royal Gold, Inc.		0.89%0.81%1.21%1.24%1.24%1.14%1.05%0.87%1.17%1.17%1.45%1.81%

Frequently Asked Questions

RGLD and IAU have a correlation of 0.69, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

RGLD has higher volatility (12.33%) compared to IAU (7.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RGLD dropped -98.29% vs IAU's -45.14%.

IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs 0.43), 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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