SGOL vs. IAK
SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) and IAK (iShares U.S. Insurance ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SGOL is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while IAK is a Financials Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Insurance Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SGOL returned 11.62%/yr vs 13.33%/yr for IAK. Their -0.02 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. SGOL charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.38%/yr for IAK.
Performance
SGOL vs. IAK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SGOL achieves a -6.06% return, which is significantly lower than IAK's 10.81% return. Over the past 10 years, SGOL has underperformed IAK with an annualized return of 11.62%, while IAK has yielded a comparatively higher 13.33% annualized return.
SGOL
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- 0.65%
- 6M
- -18.71%
- YTD
- -6.06%
- 1Y
- 21.20%
- 3Y*
- 27.11%
- 5Y*
- 17.42%
- 10Y*
- 11.62%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.34%
IAK
- 1D
- 2.11%
- 1M
- 7.61%
- 6M
- 16.12%
- YTD
- 10.81%
- 1Y
- 17.49%
- 3Y*
- 20.39%
- 5Y*
- 16.26%
- 10Y*
- 13.33%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.43%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $21.27M | $20.97M | $10.82M | |
| $79.87M | $79.24M | $102.39M |
SGOL vs. IAK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -6.06% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
IAK iShares U.S. Insurance ETF | 10.81% | 9.50% | 28.25% | 11.28% | 11.33% | 26.84% | -2.86% | 25.94% | -11.48% | 14.18% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGOL and IAK is -0.09, meaning there was essentially no consistent relationship between their historical price movements. Each responded to its own set of market drivers.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | -0.09 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | -0.01 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | -0.00 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | -0.06 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2009 | -0.02 |
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Return for Risk
SGOL vs. IAK — Risk / Return Rank
SGOL
IAK
SGOL vs. IAK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK). 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 | IAK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.43 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.21 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.77 | 2.41 | -1.64 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.73 | 5.86 | -4.13 |
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Drawdowns
SGOL vs. IAK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGOL drawdown since its inception was -45.51%, smaller than the maximum IAK drawdown of -77.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOL and IAK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SGOL | IAK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.51% | -77.38% | +31.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.32% | -7.62% | -18.70% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.32% | -11.58% | -14.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.32% | -14.76% | -11.56% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.32% | -44.95% | +18.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.94% | 0.00% | -24.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.45% | -16.03% | -2.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.64% | 3.13% | +8.51% |
Volatility
SGOL vs. IAK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is 6.07%, while iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK) has a volatility of 7.15%. This indicates that SGOL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SGOL | IAK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.07% | 7.15% | -1.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.69% | 12.11% | +11.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.79% | 15.87% | +11.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.34% | 18.09% | +0.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.08% | 20.90% | -4.82% |
SGOL vs. IAK - Expense Ratio Comparison
SGOL has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than IAK's 0.38% expense ratio.
Dividends
SGOL vs. IAK - Dividend Comparison
SGOL has not paid dividends to shareholders, while IAK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.41%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAK iShares U.S. Insurance ETF | 2.41% | 1.69% | 1.49% | 1.44% | 1.69% | 2.26% | 2.07% | 1.84% | 2.33% | 1.62% | 1.68% | 1.62% |
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 IAK have a correlation of -0.09, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAK has higher volatility (7.15%) compared to SGOL (6.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOL dropped -45.51% vs IAK's -77.38%.
On 10-year performance, IAK leads with 13.33% vs 11.62% for SGOL. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. On volatility, SGOL has been the lower-risk option at 6.07%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IAK has performed better with a 13.33% return vs 11.62%. 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 0.38% for IAK.
IAK has the higher dividend yield at 2.41%, compared with 0.00% for SGOL.
SGOL is categorized as Gold, while IAK is Financials Equities. SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while IAK tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Insurance Index. They also come from different issuers: abrdn and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for SGOL and 0.38% for IAK.
IAK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.16 vs 0.73), 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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