SFY vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

SFY (SoFi Select 500 ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - SFY is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Solactive SoFi US 500 Growth Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SFY returned 15.20%/yr vs 17.71%/yr for IAU. At a 0.09 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SFY charges 0.00%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

SFY vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in SoFi Select 500 ETF (SFY) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SFY achieves a 11.25% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 0.26% return.

SFY

• 1D: 0.79%
• 1M: 0.79%
• YTD: 11.25%
• 6M: 10.69%
• 1Y: 30.73%
• 3Y*: 25.93%
• 5Y*: 15.20%
• 10Y*: —

IAU

• 1D: 0.20%
• 1M: -8.43%
• YTD: 0.26%
• 6M: 3.08%
• 1Y: 30.27%
• 3Y*: 29.88%
• 5Y*: 17.71%
• 10Y*: 12.71%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SFY vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
SFY SoFi Select 500 ETF	11.25%	22.67%	29.81%	29.36%	-22.84%	28.03%	24.52%	13.72%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.26%	63.95%	26.85%	12.84%	-0.63%	-4.00%	25.03%	15.81%

Correlation

The correlation between SFY 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	0.15
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.12
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 11, 2019	0.09

The correlation between SFY and IAU shifts across timeframes, from 0.09 (all time) to 0.20 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

SFY vs. IAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SFY	IAU
Technology	45.5%	-
Communication Services	10.2%	-
Financial Services	9.6%	-
Healthcare	9.4%	-
Consumer Cyclical	7.6%	-
Industrials	6.7%	-
Consumer Defensive	3.4%	-
Energy	2.4%	-
Utilities	1.9%	-
Real Estate	1.7%	100.0%
Basic Materials	1.7%	-

Return for Risk

SFY vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

SFY

SFY Risk / Return Rank: 68
SFY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
SFY Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
SFY Omega Ratio Rank: 68
SFY Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
SFY Martin Ratio Rank: 73

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 33
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 38
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 34
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 29

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.

SFY vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SoFi Select 500 ETF (SFY) 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.

	SFY	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.07	1.14	+0.92
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.70	1.52	+1.18
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.37	1.23	+0.13
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.86	1.52	+1.34
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.35	3.80	+8.55
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SFY vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SFY Sharpe Ratio is 2.07, which is higher than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.14. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SFY 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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SFY	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.07	1.14	+0.92
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.80	0.99	-0.19
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.80	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.87	0.61	+0.26

Drawdowns

SFY vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SFY drawdown since its inception was -33.25%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SFY and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	SFY	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.25%	-45.14%	+11.89%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.79%	-20.04%	+9.25%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-21.04%	-20.04%	-1.00%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-27.72%	-20.93%	-6.79%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-21.82%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.84%	-19.88%	+16.04%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.18%	-15.97%	+9.79%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.49%	7.99%	-5.50%

Volatility

SFY vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

SoFi Select 500 ETF (SFY) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU) have volatilities of 5.54% and 5.64%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SFY	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.54%	5.64%	-0.10%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.81%	23.33%	-11.52%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.97%	26.68%	-11.71%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.10%	18.02%	+1.08%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.23%	15.94%	+4.29%

SFY vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

SFY has a 0.00% 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

SFY vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

SFY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.86%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SFY SoFi Select 500 ETF	0.86%	0.96%	0.99%	1.40%	1.61%	0.90%	1.18%	1.02%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SFY and IAU in my portfolio?

SFY 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.

Which is riskier, SFY or IAU?

IAU has higher volatility (5.64%) compared to SFY (5.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SFY dropped -33.25% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, SFY or IAU?

On 5-year performance, IAU leads with 17.71% vs 15.20% for SFY. On fees, SFY is cheaper at 0.00% per year. On volatility, SFY has been the lower-risk option at 5.54%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SFY or IAU?

Over the 5-year period, IAU has performed better with a 17.71% return vs 15.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SFY or IAU?

SFY is cheaper with a 0.00% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SFY or IAU?

SFY has the higher dividend yield at 0.86%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between SFY and IAU?

SFY is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while IAU is Gold. SFY tracks Solactive SoFi US 500 Growth Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: Toroso Investments and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.00% for SFY and 0.25% for IAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SFY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.07 vs 1.14), 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.