SPMO vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - SPMO is a Momentum fund tracking the S&P 500 Momentum Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SPMO returned 20.38%/yr vs 12.71%/yr for IAU. At a 0.07 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SPMO charges 0.13%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

SPMO vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) 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, SPMO achieves a 24.29% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, SPMO has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 20.38%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 12.71% annualized return.

SPMO

• 1D: 2.50%
• 1M: 2.83%
• YTD: 24.29%
• 6M: 22.86%
• 1Y: 39.53%
• 3Y*: 40.28%
• 5Y*: 23.06%
• 10Y*: 20.38%

IAU

• 1D: 0.20%
• 1M: -8.43%
• YTD: 0.26%
• 6M: 3.08%
• 1Y: 30.27%
• 3Y*: 29.88%
• 5Y*: 17.71%
• 10Y*: 12.71%

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

SPMO vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SPMO Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF	24.29%	26.58%	45.82%	17.56%	-10.45%	22.64%	28.25%	25.93%	-0.92%	27.76%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.26%	63.95%	26.85%	12.84%	-0.63%	-4.00%	25.03%	17.98%	-1.76%	12.91%

Correlation

The correlation between SPMO and IAU is 0.16, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.16
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.10
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.09
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.08
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 12, 2015	0.07

SPMO vs. IAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SPMO	IAU
Technology	54.8%	-
Industrials	10.9%	-
Communication Services	8.7%	-
Healthcare	6.2%	-
Financial Services	5.7%	-
Consumer Defensive	4.0%	-
Energy	3.1%	-
Utilities	2.5%	-
Basic Materials	1.6%	-
Consumer Cyclical	1.3%	-
Real Estate	0.9%	100.0%

Return for Risk

SPMO vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

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

SPMO

SPMO Risk / Return Rank: 71
SPMO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
SPMO Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
SPMO Omega Ratio Rank: 73
SPMO Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
SPMO Martin Ratio Rank: 71

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 33
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 38
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 34
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.

SPMO vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) 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.

	SPMO	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.13	1.14	+0.98
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.81	1.52	+1.29
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.39	1.23	+0.16
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.13	1.52	+1.61
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.02	3.80	+8.22
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SPMO vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SPMO Sharpe Ratio is 2.13, which is higher than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.14. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SPMO 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

	SPMO	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.13	1.14	+0.98
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.19	0.99	+0.20
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	1.00	0.80	+0.20
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.98	0.61	+0.37

Drawdowns

SPMO vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SPMO drawdown since its inception was -30.95%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPMO and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	SPMO	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-30.95%	-45.14%	+14.19%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.70%	-20.04%	+7.34%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.13%	-20.04%	-0.09%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-22.74%	-20.93%	-1.81%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-30.95%	-21.82%	-9.13%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.65%	-19.88%	+15.23%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.60%	-15.97%	+11.37%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.30%	7.99%	-4.69%

Volatility

SPMO vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) has a higher volatility of 9.44% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 5.64%. This indicates that SPMO'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.

Volatility by Period

	SPMO	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.44%	5.64%	+3.80%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	15.82%	23.33%	-7.51%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.72%	26.68%	-7.96%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.50%	18.02%	+1.48%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.41%	15.94%	+4.47%

SPMO vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

SPMO has a 0.13% 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

SPMO vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

SPMO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.69%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
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%
SPMO Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF	0.69%	0.73%	0.48%	1.63%	1.66%	0.52%	1.27%	1.39%	1.05%	0.77%	1.94%	0.36%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SPMO and IAU in my portfolio?

SPMO and IAU have a correlation of 0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SPMO or IAU?

SPMO has higher volatility (9.44%) compared to IAU (5.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SPMO dropped -30.95% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, SPMO or IAU?

On 10-year performance, SPMO leads with 20.38% vs 12.71% for IAU. On fees, SPMO is cheaper at 0.13% per year. On volatility, IAU has been the lower-risk option at 5.64%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SPMO or IAU?

Over the 10-year period, SPMO has performed better with a 20.38% return vs 12.71%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SPMO or IAU?

SPMO is cheaper with a 0.13% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.

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

SPMO has the higher dividend yield at 0.69%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between SPMO and IAU?

SPMO is categorized as Momentum, while IAU is Gold. SPMO tracks S&P 500 Momentum Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: Invesco and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.13% for SPMO and 0.25% for IAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPMO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.13 vs 1.14), 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.