SGOL vs. BAR
SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) and BAR (GraniteShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - SGOL is a Precious Metals fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while BAR is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SGOL returned 18.40%/yr vs 18.41%/yr for BAR. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. Both charge a 0.17% expense ratio.
Performance
SGOL vs. BAR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with SGOL having a 2.97% return and BAR slightly lower at 2.94%.
SGOL
- 1D
- -0.98%
- 1M
- -1.67%
- YTD
- 2.97%
- 6M
- 5.51%
- 1Y
- 32.27%
- 3Y*
- 31.36%
- 5Y*
- 18.40%
- 10Y*
- 13.32%
BAR
- 1D
- -1.02%
- 1M
- -1.62%
- YTD
- 2.94%
- 6M
- 5.50%
- 1Y
- 32.26%
- 3Y*
- 31.38%
- 5Y*
- 18.41%
- 10Y*
- —
SGOL vs. BAR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 2.97% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | -2.15% |
BAR GraniteShares Gold Trust | 2.94% | 64.12% | 26.97% | 12.96% | -0.55% | -3.92% | 25.02% | 18.16% | -1.87% | -1.15% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGOL and BAR is 1.00 - 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 | 1.00 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 1, 2017 | 0.98 |
The correlation between SGOL and BAR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.98 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SGOL vs. BAR — Risk / Return Rank
SGOL
BAR
SGOL vs. BAR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR). 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.
| SGOL | BAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.25 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.69 | 1.69 | 0.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.20 | 4.19 | +0.01 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SGOL | BAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.23 | 1.23 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.03 | 1.03 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.90 | -0.35 |
Drawdowns
SGOL vs. BAR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGOL drawdown since its inception was -45.51%, which is greater than BAR's maximum drawdown of -21.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOL and BAR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SGOL | BAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.51% | -21.53% | -23.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.14% | -19.19% | +0.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.14% | -19.19% | +0.05% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.92% | -20.91% | -0.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.56% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.72% | -17.72% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.41% | -6.45% | -11.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.71% | 7.72% | -0.01% |
Volatility
SGOL vs. BAR - Volatility Comparison
abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR) have volatilities of 5.46% and 5.46%, 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.
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Volatility by Period
| SGOL | BAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.46% | 5.46% | 0.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 22.93% | 23.03% | -0.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.33% | 26.43% | -0.10% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.89% | 17.90% | -0.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.91% | 16.38% | -0.47% |
SGOL vs. BAR - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both SGOL and BAR have an expense ratio of 0.17%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SGOL vs. BAR - Dividend Comparison
Neither SGOL nor BAR has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 1.00, SGOL and BAR 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.
BAR has higher volatility (5.46%) compared to SGOL (5.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOL dropped -45.51% vs BAR's -21.53%.
On 5-year performance, BAR leads with 18.41% vs 18.40% for SGOL. Both ETFs have the same 0.17% expense ratio. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BAR has performed better with a 18.41% return vs 18.40%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SGOL and BAR have the same expense ratio: 0.17% per year.
SGOL and BAR have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
SGOL is categorized as Precious Metals, while BAR is Gold. Both ETFs track LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). They also come from different issuers: abrdn and GraniteShares.
SGOL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.23 vs 1.23), 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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