SGOV vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - SGOV is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SGOV returned 3.54%/yr vs 18.32%/yr for IAU. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SGOV charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

SGOV vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SGOV achieves a 1.51% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 2.98% return.

SGOV

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: 0.29%
• YTD: 1.51%
• 6M: 1.80%
• 1Y: 3.95%
• 3Y*: 4.72%
• 5Y*: 3.54%
• 10Y*: —

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%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SGOV vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	1.51%	4.24%	5.27%	5.12%	1.58%	0.04%	0.05%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	2.98%	63.95%	26.85%	12.84%	-0.63%	-4.00%	10.41%

Correlation

The correlation between SGOV and IAU is 0.01, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.01
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.01
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.02
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 29, 2020	0.01

Return for Risk

SGOV vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

SGOV

SGOV Risk / Return Rank: 100
SGOV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV Omega Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV Calmar Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV Martin Ratio Rank: 100

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 32
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 33
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 36
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 33
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 29

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

SGOV vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) 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.

	SGOV	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	20.28	1.23	+19.05
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	275.69	1.62	+274.07
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	195.55	1.24	+194.31
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	398.20	1.69	+396.51
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	4,462.00	4.19	+4,457.82
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SGOV vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SGOV Sharpe Ratio is 20.28, which is higher than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.23. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SGOV and IAU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SGOV	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.28	1.23	+19.05
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	14.73	1.03	+13.71
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.84	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	12.48	0.62	+11.86

Drawdowns

SGOV vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SGOV drawdown since its inception was -0.03%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGOV and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	SGOV	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.03%	-45.14%	+45.11%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.01%	-19.18%	+19.17%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.01%	-19.18%	+19.17%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-0.03%	-20.93%	+20.90%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-21.82%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-17.70%	+17.70%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.00%	-15.96%	+15.96%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.00%	7.71%	-7.71%

Volatility

SGOV vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) is 0.05%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.50%. This indicates that SGOV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SGOV	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.05%	5.50%	-5.45%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.13%	23.02%	-22.89%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.20%	26.42%	-26.22%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.24%	17.95%	-17.71%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.24%	15.90%	-15.66%

SGOV vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

SGOV has a 0.09% 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

SGOV vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

SGOV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.86%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	3.86%	4.10%	5.10%	4.87%	1.45%	0.03%	0.05%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SGOV and IAU in my portfolio?

SGOV and IAU have a correlation of 0.01, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SGOV or IAU?

IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to SGOV (0.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SGOV dropped -0.03% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, SGOV or IAU?

On 5-year performance, IAU leads with 18.32% vs 3.54% for SGOV. On fees, SGOV is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, SGOV has been the lower-risk option at 0.05%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SGOV or IAU?

Over the 5-year period, IAU has performed better with a 18.32% return vs 3.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SGOV or IAU?

SGOV is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SGOV or IAU?

SGOV has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between SGOV and IAU?

SGOV is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while IAU is Gold. SGOV tracks ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for SGOV and 0.25% for IAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (20.28 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.