SGOL vs. IAU
SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - SGOL is a Precious Metals fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SGOL returned 13.32%/yr vs 13.31%/yr for IAU. With a 0.99 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. SGOL charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
SGOL vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with SGOL having a 2.97% return and IAU slightly higher at 2.98%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SGOL having a 13.32% annualized return and IAU not far behind at 13.31%.
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%
IAU
- 1D
- -0.98%
- 1M
- -1.62%
- YTD
- 2.98%
- 6M
- 5.50%
- 1Y
- 32.20%
- 3Y*
- 31.29%
- 5Y*
- 18.32%
- 10Y*
- 13.31%
SGOL vs. IAU - 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% | 12.86% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 2.98% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between SGOL and IAU 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 (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 10, 2009 | 0.99 |
The correlation between SGOL and IAU has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.99 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SGOL vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
SGOL
IAU
SGOL vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). 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 | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.23 | 1.23 | +0.01 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.63 | 1.62 | +0.01 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.24 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.69 | 1.69 | +0.01 |
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 | IAU | 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 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 | 0.84 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.62 | -0.07 |
Drawdowns
SGOL vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SGOL drawdown since its inception was -45.51%, roughly equal to the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOL and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SGOL | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.51% | -45.14% | -0.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.14% | -19.18% | +0.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.14% | -19.18% | +0.04% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.92% | -20.93% | +0.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.56% | -21.82% | +0.26% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.72% | -17.70% | -0.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.41% | -15.96% | -2.45% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.71% | 7.71% | 0.00% |
Volatility
SGOL vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU) have volatilities of 5.46% and 5.50%, 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 | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.46% | 5.50% | -0.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 22.93% | 23.02% | -0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.33% | 26.42% | -0.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.89% | 17.95% | -0.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.91% | 15.90% | +0.01% |
SGOL vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
SGOL has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SGOL vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither SGOL nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 1.00, SGOL and IAU 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.
IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to SGOL (5.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOL dropped -45.51% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, SGOL leads with 13.32% vs 13.31% for IAU. On fees, SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% per year. Their volatility is very similar. 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 13.32% return vs 13.31%. 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 0.25% for IAU.
SGOL and IAU have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
SGOL is categorized as Precious Metals, while IAU is Gold. SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: abrdn and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for SGOL and 0.25% for IAU.
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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