RSBT vs. IAU
RSBT (Return Stacked Bonds & Managed Futures ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - RSBT is a Nontraditional Bonds fund actively managed by Return Stacked, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. RSBT is actively managed, while IAU is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, RSBT returned 3.21%/yr vs 29.07%/yr for IAU. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. RSBT charges 0.97%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
RSBT vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RSBT achieves a 6.42% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -2.44% return.
RSBT
- 1D
- 0.37%
- 1M
- -3.00%
- YTD
- 6.42%
- 6M
- 8.27%
- 1Y
- 23.51%
- 3Y*
- 3.21%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IAU
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -9.54%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -2.22%
- 1Y
- 22.32%
- 3Y*
- 29.07%
- 5Y*
- 17.23%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
RSBT vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RSBT Return Stacked Bonds & Managed Futures ETF | 6.42% | 10.31% | -2.90% | -11.85% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -2.44% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 10.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between RSBT and IAU is 0.50, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 8, 2023 | 0.41 |
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Return for Risk
RSBT vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
RSBT
IAU
RSBT vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Return Stacked Bonds & Managed Futures ETF (RSBT) 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.
| RSBT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.63 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.19 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.53 | 0.99 | +2.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.11 | 2.83 | +6.28 |
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Drawdowns
RSBT vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RSBT drawdown since its inception was -23.60%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RSBT and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RSBT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.60% | -45.14% | +21.54% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.33% | -24.40% | +18.07% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.98% | -24.40% | +5.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -24.40% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -24.40% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.83% | -22.03% | +18.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.55% | -15.97% | +3.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.45% | 8.47% | -6.02% |
Volatility
RSBT vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Return Stacked Bonds & Managed Futures ETF (RSBT) is 5.71%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 7.70%. This indicates that RSBT 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
| RSBT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.71% | 7.70% | -1.99% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.07% | 23.94% | -12.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.74% | 27.17% | -12.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.88% | 18.16% | -4.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.88% | 16.02% | -2.14% |
RSBT vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
RSBT has a 0.97% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
RSBT vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
RSBT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.01%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
RSBT Return Stacked Bonds & Managed Futures ETF | 3.01% | 3.20% | 0.00% | 2.38% |
Frequently Asked Questions
RSBT and IAU have a correlation of 0.50, 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 RSBT (5.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RSBT dropped -23.60% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 3-year performance, IAU leads with 29.07% vs 3.21% for RSBT. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, RSBT has been the lower-risk option at 5.71%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, IAU has performed better with a 29.07% return vs 3.21%. 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 0.97% for RSBT.
RSBT has the higher dividend yield at 3.01%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
RSBT is categorized as Nontraditional Bonds, while IAU is Gold. They also come from different issuers: Return Stacked and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.97% for RSBT and 0.25% for IAU.
RSBT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.52 vs 0.89), 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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