TPSC vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

TPSC (Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - TPSC is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Victory U.S. Small Cap Volatility Weighted BRI, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, TPSC returned 7.07%/yr vs 18.32%/yr for IAU. At a 0.10 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. TPSC charges 0.52%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

TPSC vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF (TPSC) 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, TPSC achieves a 9.32% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 2.98% return.

TPSC

• 1D: -0.67%
• 1M: 0.13%
• YTD: 9.32%
• 6M: 8.70%
• 1Y: 20.18%
• 3Y*: 14.55%
• 5Y*: 7.07%
• 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)

TPSC vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
TPSC Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF	9.32%	7.34%	11.50%	17.64%	-13.46%	29.74%	10.27%	3.39%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	2.98%	63.95%	26.85%	12.84%	-0.63%	-4.00%	25.03%	2.69%

Correlation

The correlation between TPSC 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	0.15
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.12
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 4, 2019	0.10

TPSC vs. IAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	TPSC	IAU
Financial Services	24.0%	-
Industrials	18.5%	-
Consumer Cyclical	13.7%	-
Technology	12.4%	-
Healthcare	7.0%	-
Utilities	6.8%	-
Energy	5.9%	-
Consumer Defensive	5.3%	-
Basic Materials	5.2%	-
Real Estate	0.7%	100.0%
Communication Services	0.6%	-

Return for Risk

TPSC vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

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

TPSC

TPSC Risk / Return Rank: 40
TPSC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 36
TPSC Sortino Ratio Rank: 38
TPSC Omega Ratio Rank: 34
TPSC Calmar Ratio Rank: 46
TPSC Martin Ratio Rank: 45

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.

TPSC vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF (TPSC) 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.

	TPSC	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.29	1.23	+0.06
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.98	1.62	+0.36
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.23	1.24	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.27	1.69	+0.58
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.35	4.19	+3.16
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

TPSC vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TPSC Sharpe Ratio is 1.29, which is comparable to the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.23. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TPSC 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

	TPSC	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.29	1.23	+0.06
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.36	1.03	-0.67
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.84	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.45	0.62	-0.17

Drawdowns

TPSC vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TPSC drawdown since its inception was -41.79%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TPSC and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	TPSC	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-41.79%	-45.14%	+3.35%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.95%	-19.18%	+10.23%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-23.44%	-19.18%	-4.26%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-23.63%	-20.93%	-2.70%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-21.82%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.48%	-17.70%	+16.22%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.43%	-15.96%	+7.53%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.75%	7.71%	-4.96%

Volatility

TPSC vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF (TPSC) is 3.96%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.50%. This indicates that TPSC 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

	TPSC	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.96%	5.50%	-1.54%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.59%	23.02%	-12.43%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.80%	26.42%	-10.62%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.90%	17.95%	+1.95%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.47%	15.90%	+8.57%

TPSC vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

TPSC has a 0.52% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.

Dividends

TPSC vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

TPSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
TPSC Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF	1.02%	1.07%	0.97%	1.06%	1.07%	1.12%	1.13%	0.07%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TPSC and IAU in my portfolio?

TPSC 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, TPSC or IAU?

IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to TPSC (3.96%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TPSC dropped -41.79% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, TPSC or IAU?

On 5-year performance, IAU leads with 18.32% vs 7.07% for TPSC. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, TPSC has been the lower-risk option at 3.96%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, TPSC or IAU?

Over the 5-year period, IAU has performed better with a 18.32% return vs 7.07%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, TPSC or IAU?

IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.52% for TPSC.

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

TPSC has the higher dividend yield at 1.02%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between TPSC and IAU?

TPSC is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while IAU is Gold. TPSC tracks Victory U.S. Small Cap Volatility Weighted BRI, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: Timothy Plan and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.52% for TPSC and 0.25% for IAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

TPSC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.29 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.