SGOL vs. AIA
SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) and AIA (iShares Asia 50 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SGOL is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while AIA is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the S&P Asia 50. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SGOL returned 12.34%/yr vs 15.05%/yr for AIA. At a 0.16 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SGOL charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for AIA.
Performance
SGOL vs. AIA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SGOL achieves a -2.39% return, which is significantly lower than AIA's 44.56% return. Over the past 10 years, SGOL has underperformed AIA with an annualized return of 12.34%, while AIA has yielded a comparatively higher 15.05% annualized return.
SGOL
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -7.35%
- YTD
- -2.39%
- 6M
- -2.15%
- 1Y
- 22.44%
- 3Y*
- 29.18%
- 5Y*
- 17.34%
- 10Y*
- 12.34%
AIA
- 1D
- 0.54%
- 1M
- 6.70%
- YTD
- 44.56%
- 6M
- 50.54%
- 1Y
- 83.79%
- 3Y*
- 34.57%
- 5Y*
- 11.52%
- 10Y*
- 15.05%
SGOL vs. AIA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -2.39% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
AIA iShares Asia 50 ETF | 44.56% | 47.79% | 20.26% | 4.32% | -24.08% | -10.91% | 33.73% | 22.21% | -14.22% | 45.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGOL and AIA is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2009 | 0.16 |
The correlation between SGOL and AIA shifts across timeframes, from 0.16 (all time) to 0.33 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SGOL vs. AIA — Risk / Return Rank
SGOL
AIA
SGOL vs. AIA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA). 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.
| SGOL | AIA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.99 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.15 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.49 | -0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.99 | 5.70 | -4.71 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.85 | 19.76 | -16.91 |
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Drawdowns
SGOL vs. AIA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGOL drawdown since its inception was -45.51%, smaller than the maximum AIA drawdown of -60.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOL and AIA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SGOL | AIA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.51% | -60.89% | +15.38% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.37% | -14.15% | -10.22% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.37% | -21.64% | -2.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.37% | -50.11% | +25.74% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.37% | -54.64% | +30.27% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.00% | -6.44% | -15.56% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.41% | -16.66% | -1.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.46% | 4.08% | +4.38% |
Volatility
SGOL vs. AIA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is 7.69%, while iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA) has a volatility of 14.34%. This indicates that SGOL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AIA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SGOL | AIA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.69% | 14.34% | -6.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.85% | 24.49% | -0.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.08% | 27.93% | -0.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.10% | 25.96% | -7.86% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.04% | 23.78% | -7.74% |
SGOL vs. AIA - Expense Ratio Comparison
SGOL has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than AIA's 0.50% expense ratio.
Dividends
SGOL vs. AIA - Dividend Comparison
SGOL has not paid dividends to shareholders, while AIA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.73%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AIA iShares Asia 50 ETF | 1.73% | 2.50% | 2.78% | 2.07% | 2.59% | 1.54% | 1.11% | 2.24% | 2.49% | 1.45% | 2.29% | 2.88% |
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SGOL and AIA have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
AIA has higher volatility (14.34%) compared to SGOL (7.69%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOL dropped -45.51% vs AIA's -60.89%.
On 10-year performance, AIA leads with 15.05% vs 12.34% for SGOL. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, SGOL has been the lower-risk option at 7.69%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, AIA has performed better with a 15.05% return vs 12.34%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SGOL is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for AIA.
AIA has the higher dividend yield at 1.73%, compared with 0.00% for SGOL.
SGOL is categorized as Gold, while AIA is Asia Pacific Equities. SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while AIA tracks S&P Asia 50. They also come from different issuers: abrdn and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for SGOL and 0.50% for AIA.
AIA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.89 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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