SIL vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
SIL and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. SIL is a passively managed fund by Global X that tracks the performance of the Stuttgart Solactive AG Global Silver Miners (USD). It was launched on Apr 19, 2010. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. Both SIL and IAU are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: SIL or IAU.
Key characteristics
| SIL | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 32.63% | 29.90% |
| 1Y Return | 59.37% | 36.88% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -1.64% | 13.33% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 6.28% | 12.80% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 4.35% | 8.49% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.65 | 2.57 |
| Sortino Ratio | 2.27 | 3.40 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.28 | 1.45 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.81 | 5.48 |
| Martin Ratio | 6.20 | 17.00 |
| Ulcer Index | 9.43% | 2.20% |
| Daily Std Dev | 35.53% | 14.53% |
| Max Drawdown | -82.99% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -53.69% | -3.70% |
Correlation
The correlation between SIL and IAU is 0.71, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
SIL vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, SIL achieves a 32.63% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 29.90% return. Over the past 10 years, SIL has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 4.35%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 8.49% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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SIL vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
SIL has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
SIL vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) 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.
Dividends
SIL vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
SIL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.38%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF | 0.38% | 0.59% | 0.48% | 1.59% | 1.92% | 1.53% | 1.22% | 0.02% | 3.34% | 0.38% | 0.08% | 0.66% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
SIL vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SIL drawdown since its inception was -82.99%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SIL and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
SIL vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) has a higher volatility of 11.91% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 4.90%. This indicates that SIL's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.