SCHF vs. IAU
SCHF (Schwab International Equity ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - SCHF is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed ex U.S. Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SCHF returned 10.82%/yr vs 12.31%/yr for IAU. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SCHF charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
SCHF vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHF achieves a 15.39% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -2.44% return. Over the past 10 years, SCHF has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 10.82%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 12.31% annualized return.
SCHF
- 1D
- 0.29%
- 1M
- 1.69%
- YTD
- 15.39%
- 6M
- 17.24%
- 1Y
- 31.75%
- 3Y*
- 19.18%
- 5Y*
- 9.76%
- 10Y*
- 10.82%
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%
SCHF vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHF Schwab International Equity ETF | 15.39% | 34.55% | 3.28% | 18.35% | -14.80% | 11.40% | 9.48% | 22.26% | -14.29% | 26.03% |
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 SCHF and IAU is 0.40, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 3, 2009 | 0.20 |
Over the past year, SCHF and IAU have become more correlated (0.40) than their long-term average of 0.20, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
SCHF vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
SCHF
IAU
SCHF vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) 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.
| SCHF | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.93 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.27 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.19 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.64 | 0.99 | +1.66 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.14 | 2.83 | +7.31 |
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Drawdowns
SCHF vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHF drawdown since its inception was -34.87%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHF and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCHF | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.87% | -45.14% | +10.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.48% | -24.40% | +12.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.41% | -24.40% | +10.99% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.14% | -24.40% | -4.74% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.87% | -24.40% | -10.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.00% | -22.03% | +21.03% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.37% | -15.97% | +8.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.99% | 8.47% | -5.48% |
Volatility
SCHF vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) is 6.91%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 7.70%. This indicates that SCHF 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
| SCHF | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.91% | 7.70% | -0.79% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.42% | 23.94% | -9.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.67% | 27.17% | -10.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.56% | 18.16% | -1.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.24% | 16.02% | +1.22% |
SCHF vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCHF has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SCHF vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
SCHF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.96%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
SCHF Schwab International Equity ETF | 2.96% | 3.42% | 3.26% | 2.97% | 2.80% | 3.19% | 2.08% | 2.95% | 3.06% | 2.35% | 2.58% | 2.26% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SCHF and IAU have a correlation of 0.40, 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 SCHF (6.91%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHF dropped -34.87% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 12.31% vs 10.82% for SCHF. On fees, SCHF is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, SCHF has been the lower-risk option at 6.91%. 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 12.31% return vs 10.82%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SCHF is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.
SCHF has the higher dividend yield at 2.96%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
SCHF is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while IAU is Gold. SCHF tracks FTSE Developed ex U.S. Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for SCHF and 0.25% for IAU.
SCHF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.82 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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