SGOL vs. GDXJ
SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) and GDXJ (VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF) are both Gold funds - SGOL tracks the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt) while GDXJ tracks the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SGOL returned 13.40%/yr vs 12.98%/yr for GDXJ. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SGOL charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.52%/yr for GDXJ.
Performance
SGOL vs. GDXJ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SGOL achieves a 3.85% return, which is significantly higher than GDXJ's -1.65% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SGOL having a 13.40% annualized return and GDXJ not far behind at 12.98%.
SGOL
- 1D
- 0.85%
- 1M
- -1.66%
- YTD
- 3.85%
- 6M
- 6.30%
- 1Y
- 32.57%
- 3Y*
- 31.48%
- 5Y*
- 18.60%
- 10Y*
- 13.40%
GDXJ
- 1D
- 0.92%
- 1M
- -1.11%
- YTD
- -1.65%
- 6M
- 7.01%
- 1Y
- 65.36%
- 3Y*
- 46.18%
- 5Y*
- 17.68%
- 10Y*
- 12.98%
SGOL vs. GDXJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 3.85% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
GDXJ VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | -1.65% | 172.28% | 15.67% | 7.12% | -14.53% | -21.25% | 30.40% | 40.44% | -11.02% | 8.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGOL and GDXJ is 0.79, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 12, 2009 | 0.75 |
The correlation between SGOL and GDXJ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.75 to 0.79 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SGOL vs. GDXJ — Risk / Return Rank
SGOL
GDXJ
SGOL vs. GDXJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ). 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 | GDXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.11 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.24 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.71 | 2.00 | -0.29 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.20 | 4.93 | -0.73 |
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 | GDXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 1.32 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.05 | 0.43 | +0.61 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 | 0.30 | +0.55 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.06 | +0.49 |
Drawdowns
SGOL vs. GDXJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGOL drawdown since its inception was -45.51%, smaller than the maximum GDXJ drawdown of -88.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOL and GDXJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SGOL | GDXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.51% | -88.66% | +43.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.14% | -32.92% | +13.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.14% | -32.92% | +13.78% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.92% | -50.99% | +30.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.56% | -57.77% | +36.21% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.02% | -28.36% | +11.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.41% | -60.50% | +42.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.78% | 13.31% | -5.53% |
Volatility
SGOL vs. GDXJ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is 5.47%, while VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) has a volatility of 16.69%. This indicates that SGOL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GDXJ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SGOL | GDXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.47% | 16.69% | -11.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 22.94% | 41.33% | -18.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.32% | 49.77% | -23.45% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.88% | 41.09% | -23.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.91% | 44.05% | -28.14% |
SGOL vs. GDXJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
SGOL has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than GDXJ's 0.52% expense ratio.
Dividends
SGOL vs. GDXJ - Dividend Comparison
SGOL has not paid dividends to shareholders, while GDXJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.37%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDXJ VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | 2.37% | 2.33% | 2.61% | 0.72% | 0.51% | 1.78% | 1.58% | 0.39% | 0.45% | 0.03% | 4.78% | 0.72% |
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 GDXJ have a correlation of 0.79, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GDXJ has higher volatility (16.69%) compared to SGOL (5.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOL dropped -45.51% vs GDXJ's -88.66%.
On 10-year performance, SGOL leads with 13.40% vs 12.98% for GDXJ. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, SGOL has been the lower-risk option at 5.47%. 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 13.40% return vs 12.98%. 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 0.52% for GDXJ.
GDXJ has the higher dividend yield at 2.37%, compared with 0.00% for SGOL.
SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while GDXJ tracks MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index. They also come from different issuers: abrdn and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for SGOL and 0.52% for GDXJ.
GDXJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.32 vs 1.24), 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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