SGOL vs. DGZ
SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) and DGZ (DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes) are both exchange-traded funds - SGOL is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while DGZ is a Inverse Commodities fund tracking the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return (-100%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SGOL returned 11.49%/yr vs -7.18%/yr for DGZ. At a correlation of -0.81, they often move in opposite directions. SGOL charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for DGZ.
Performance
SGOL vs. DGZ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SGOL achieves a -6.67% return, which is significantly lower than DGZ's 12.34% return. Over the past 10 years, SGOL has outperformed DGZ with an annualized return of 11.49%, while DGZ has yielded a comparatively lower -7.18% annualized return.
SGOL
- 1D
- 1.00%
- 1M
- -10.69%
- YTD
- -6.67%
- 6M
- -10.17%
- 1Y
- 20.57%
- 3Y*
- 27.73%
- 5Y*
- 17.55%
- 10Y*
- 11.49%
DGZ
- 1D
- 2.93%
- 1M
- 20.16%
- YTD
- 12.34%
- 6M
- 19.11%
- 1Y
- -7.39%
- 3Y*
- -14.47%
- 5Y*
- -9.47%
- 10Y*
- -7.18%
SGOL vs. DGZ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -6.67% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
DGZ DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes | 12.34% | -32.55% | -16.46% | -4.75% | 4.93% | 1.53% | -20.80% | -13.42% | 4.88% | -11.36% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGOL and DGZ is -0.39, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.39 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.44 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.57 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.68 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2009 | -0.81 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between SGOL and DGZ has weakened: their correlation has moved from -0.81 to -0.39, meaning they move in opposite directions less often than they have historically.
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Return for Risk
SGOL vs. DGZ — Risk / Return Rank
SGOL
DGZ
SGOL vs. DGZ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes (DGZ). 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 | DGZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.86 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.74 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.05 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.79 | -0.19 | +0.98 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.21 | -0.33 | +2.54 |
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Drawdowns
SGOL vs. DGZ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGOL drawdown since its inception was -45.51%, smaller than the maximum DGZ drawdown of -86.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOL and DGZ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SGOL | DGZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.51% | -86.32% | +40.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.16% | -38.32% | +12.16% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.16% | -59.54% | +33.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.16% | -61.54% | +35.38% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.16% | -71.49% | +45.33% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -25.42% | -80.76% | +55.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.42% | -57.81% | +39.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.34% | 22.28% | -12.94% |
Volatility
SGOL vs. DGZ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is 8.65%, while DB Gold Short Exchange Traded Notes (DGZ) has a volatility of 44.52%. This indicates that SGOL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DGZ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SGOL | DGZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.65% | 44.52% | -35.87% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.24% | 58.77% | -34.53% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.43% | 69.78% | -42.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.18% | 36.57% | -18.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.03% | 28.21% | -12.18% |
SGOL vs. DGZ - Expense Ratio Comparison
SGOL has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than DGZ's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
SGOL vs. DGZ - Dividend Comparison
Neither SGOL nor DGZ has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
SGOL and DGZ have a correlation of -0.39, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DGZ has higher volatility (44.52%) compared to SGOL (8.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOL dropped -45.51% vs DGZ's -86.32%.
On 10-year performance, SGOL leads with 11.49% vs -7.18% for DGZ. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, SGOL has been the lower-risk option at 8.65%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SGOL has performed better with a 11.49% return vs -7.18%. 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 0.75% for DGZ.
SGOL and DGZ have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
SGOL is categorized as Gold, while DGZ is Inverse Commodities. SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while DGZ tracks Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return (-100%). They also come from different issuers: abrdn and Deutsche Bank. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for SGOL and 0.75% for DGZ.
SGOL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.75 vs -0.11), 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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