SYSB vs. IAU
SYSB (iShares Systematic Bond ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - SYSB is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund tracking the BlackRock Universal Systematic Bond Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SYSB returned 2.31%/yr vs 13.38%/yr for IAU. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. Both charge a 0.25% expense ratio.
Performance
SYSB vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SYSB achieves a 0.24% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 3.83% return. Over the past 10 years, SYSB has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 2.31%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 13.38% annualized return.
SYSB
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- 0.20%
- YTD
- 0.24%
- 6M
- 0.32%
- 1Y
- 5.37%
- 3Y*
- 6.74%
- 5Y*
- 1.57%
- 10Y*
- 2.31%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.83%
- 1M
- -1.65%
- YTD
- 3.83%
- 6M
- 6.31%
- 1Y
- 32.47%
- 3Y*
- 31.39%
- 5Y*
- 18.52%
- 10Y*
- 13.38%
SYSB vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SYSB iShares Systematic Bond ETF | 0.24% | 8.32% | 6.04% | 8.22% | -13.57% | -1.00% | 3.31% | 10.03% | -0.93% | 3.89% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 3.83% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between SYSB and IAU is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 27, 2015 | 0.29 |
The correlation between SYSB and IAU shifts across timeframes, from 0.23 (1 year) to 0.33 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SYSB vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
SYSB
IAU
SYSB vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Systematic Bond ETF (SYSB) 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.
| SYSB | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.40 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.25 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.80 | 1.70 | +0.10 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.50 | 4.18 | +1.32 |
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
| SYSB | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.42 | 1.24 | +0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 | 1.04 | -0.76 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 | 0.84 | -0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.63 | -0.12 |
Drawdowns
SYSB vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SYSB drawdown since its inception was -18.47%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SYSB and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SYSB | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.47% | -45.14% | +26.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.99% | -19.18% | +16.19% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.08% | -19.18% | +16.10% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.47% | -20.93% | +2.46% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.47% | -21.82% | +3.35% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.61% | -17.02% | +15.41% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.27% | -15.96% | +12.69% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.98% | 7.79% | -6.81% |
Volatility
SYSB vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Systematic Bond ETF (SYSB) is 1.40%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.50%. This indicates that SYSB 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.
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Volatility by Period
| SYSB | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.40% | 5.50% | -4.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.11% | 23.03% | -19.92% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.80% | 26.41% | -22.61% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.63% | 17.94% | -12.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.95% | 15.90% | -10.95% |
SYSB vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both SYSB and IAU have an expense ratio of 0.25%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SYSB vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
SYSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.61%, 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% |
SYSB iShares Systematic Bond ETF | 4.61% | 4.78% | 5.04% | 4.44% | 3.27% | 1.92% | 2.57% | 3.27% | 3.61% | 2.74% | 2.92% | 2.26% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SYSB and IAU have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to SYSB (1.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SYSB dropped -18.47% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 13.38% vs 2.31% for SYSB. Both ETFs have the same 0.25% expense ratio. On volatility, SYSB has been the lower-risk option at 1.40%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IAU has performed better with a 13.38% return vs 2.31%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SYSB and IAU have the same expense ratio: 0.25% per year.
SYSB has the higher dividend yield at 4.61%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
SYSB is categorized as Intermediate Core-Plus Bond, while IAU is Gold. SYSB tracks BlackRock Universal Systematic Bond Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price.
SYSB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.42 vs 1.24), 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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