TEK vs. IAU

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

TEK (iShares Technology Opportunities Active ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - TEK is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by iShares, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. TEK is actively managed, while IAU is passively managed. Over the past year, TEK returned 39.18% vs 18.88% for IAU. At a 0.16 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. TEK charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

TEK vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Technology Opportunities Active ETF (TEK) 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, TEK achieves a 27.66% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -7.29% return.

TEK

• 1D: -4.31%
• 1M: -5.00%
• 6M: 23.88%
• YTD: 27.66%
• 1Y: 39.18%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

IAU

• 1D: -2.60%
• 1M: -4.98%
• 6M: -13.00%
• YTD: -7.29%
• 1Y: 18.88%
• 3Y*: 26.67%
• 5Y*: 16.68%
• 10Y*: 11.37%

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

TEK vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
TEK iShares Technology Opportunities Active ETF	27.66%	18.63%	2.63%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	-7.29%	63.95%	-3.64%

Correlation

The correlation between TEK and IAU is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.27
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 22, 2024	0.16

The correlation between TEK and IAU shifts across timeframes, from 0.16 (all time) to 0.27 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

TEK vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

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

TEK

TEK Risk / Return Rank: 45
TEK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
TEK Sortino Ratio Rank: 42
TEK Omega Ratio Rank: 44
TEK Calmar Ratio Rank: 51
TEK Martin Ratio Rank: 43

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 22
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 24
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 22
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 26
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 20

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.

TEK vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Technology Opportunities Active ETF (TEK) 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	TEK	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.27	0.68	+0.59
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.75	1.02	+0.73
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.23	1.15	+0.08
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.04	0.72	+1.32
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.62	1.77	+3.84

TEK vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TEK Sharpe Ratio is 1.27, which is higher than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 0.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TEK 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.

Drawdowns

TEK vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TEK drawdown since its inception was -28.24%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TEK and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	TEK	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-28.24%	-45.14%	+16.90%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.29%	-26.17%	+6.88%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-26.17%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-26.17%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-26.17%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-11.40%	-25.91%	+14.51%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.90%	-16.00%	+10.10%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.99%	10.66%	-3.67%

Volatility

TEK vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

iShares Technology Opportunities Active ETF (TEK) has a higher volatility of 15.63% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 7.54%. This indicates that TEK'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

	TEK	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	15.63%	7.54%	+8.09%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	27.20%	24.02%	+3.18%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	31.05%	27.75%	+3.30%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	31.44%	18.33%	+13.11%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	31.44%	16.04%	+15.40%

TEK vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

TEK has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.

Dividends

TEK vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

TEK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.24%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.00%	0.00%
TEK iShares Technology Opportunities Active ETF	1.24%	1.62%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TEK and IAU in my portfolio?

TEK and IAU have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TEK or IAU?

TEK has higher volatility (15.63%) compared to IAU (7.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TEK dropped -28.24% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, TEK or IAU?

On 1-year performance, TEK leads with 39.18% vs 18.88% for IAU. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, IAU has been the lower-risk option at 7.54%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, TEK or IAU?

Over the 1-year period, TEK has performed better with a 39.18% return vs 18.88%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, TEK or IAU?

IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for TEK.

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

TEK has the higher dividend yield at 1.24%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between TEK and IAU?

TEK is categorized as Technology Equities, while IAU is Gold. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for TEK and 0.25% for IAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

TEK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.27 vs 0.68), 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.