SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE
SGLN.L (iShares Physical Gold ETC) and 4GLD.DE (Xetra-Gold) are both Gold funds tracking the LBMA Gold Price, from iShares and Deutsche Börse Commodities respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SGLN.L returned 14.27%/yr vs 14.46%/yr for 4GLD.DE. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. SGLN.L charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.00%/yr for 4GLD.DE.
Performance
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Different Trading Currencies
SGLN.L is traded in GBp, while 4GLD.DE is traded in EUR. To make them comparable, the 4GLD.DE values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SGLN.L achieves a 3.89% return, which is significantly higher than 4GLD.DE's 1.99% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SGLN.L having a 14.27% annualized return and 4GLD.DE not far ahead at 14.46%.
SGLN.L
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- -1.36%
- YTD
- 3.89%
- 6M
- 5.42%
- 1Y
- 33.75%
- 3Y*
- 28.17%
- 5Y*
- 20.12%
- 10Y*
- 14.27%
4GLD.DE
- 1D
- 0.69%
- 1M
- -1.34%
- YTD
- 1.99%
- 6M
- 5.39%
- 1Y
- 33.79%
- 3Y*
- 28.37%
- 5Y*
- 20.02%
- 10Y*
- 14.46%
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGLN.L iShares Physical Gold ETC | 3.89% | 53.66% | 28.20% | 7.24% | 11.84% | -2.57% | 19.62% | 14.63% | 4.36% | 1.68% |
4GLD.DE Xetra-Gold | 1.99% | 57.09% | 28.71% | 7.13% | 12.98% | -3.31% | 19.44% | 14.94% | 4.66% | 2.53% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGLN.L and 4GLD.DE is 0.96 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 13, 2011 | 0.91 |
The correlation between SGLN.L and 4GLD.DE has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.96 - 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.
Return for Risk
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE — Risk / Return Rank
SGLN.L
4GLD.DE
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Physical Gold ETC (SGLN.L) and Xetra-Gold (4GLD.DE). 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.
| SGLN.L | 4GLD.DE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.28 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.91 | 1.95 | -0.03 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.05 | 5.14 | -0.09 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SGLN.L | 4GLD.DE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.45 | 1.46 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.23 | 1.22 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 | 0.91 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.65 | -0.11 |
Drawdowns
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGLN.L drawdown since its inception was -41.71%, roughly equal to the maximum 4GLD.DE drawdown of -40.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGLN.L and 4GLD.DE.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| SGLN.L | 4GLD.DE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.71% | -40.90% | -0.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.57% | -17.27% | -0.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.57% | -17.27% | -0.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.57% | -17.27% | -0.30% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.91% | -22.46% | +0.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -16.01% | -15.60% | -0.41% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.76% | -12.90% | -1.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.67% | 6.56% | +0.11% |
Volatility
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE - Volatility Comparison
iShares Physical Gold ETC (SGLN.L) and Xetra-Gold (4GLD.DE) have volatilities of 5.08% and 5.10%, 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| SGLN.L | 4GLD.DE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.08% | 5.10% | -0.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.08% | 19.99% | +0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.19% | 23.11% | +0.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.30% | 16.20% | +0.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.78% | 15.78% | 0.00% |
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE - Expense Ratio Comparison
SGLN.L has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is higher than 4GLD.DE's 0.00% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SGLN.L vs. 4GLD.DE - Dividend Comparison
Neither SGLN.L nor 4GLD.DE has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.96, SGLN.L and 4GLD.DE move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
On fees, 4GLD.DE is cheaper at 0.00% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
4GLD.DE is cheaper with a 0.00% expense ratio, compared with 0.12% for SGLN.L.
Both ETFs track LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Deutsche Börse Commodities. Their fees differ too: 0.12% for SGLN.L and 0.00% for 4GLD.DE.
Find the right allocation for SGLN.L and 4GLD.DE
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer