URTH vs. IAU
URTH (iShares MSCI World ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - URTH is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI World Index (Net), while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, URTH returned 13.44%/yr vs 11.76%/yr for IAU. At a 0.07 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. URTH charges 0.24%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.
Performance
URTH vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, URTH achieves a 8.07% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's -4.73% return. Over the past 10 years, URTH has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 13.44%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 11.76% annualized return.
URTH
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- -0.88%
- YTD
- 8.07%
- 6M
- 7.24%
- 1Y
- 23.04%
- 3Y*
- 19.67%
- 5Y*
- 11.29%
- 10Y*
- 13.44%
IAU
- 1D
- -1.87%
- 1M
- -8.82%
- YTD
- -4.73%
- 6M
- -8.68%
- 1Y
- 21.45%
- 3Y*
- 28.61%
- 5Y*
- 18.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.76%
URTH vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF | 8.07% | 21.36% | 18.66% | 23.95% | -17.97% | 22.27% | 15.78% | 28.15% | -8.56% | 22.95% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -4.73% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between URTH and IAU is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.24 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 12, 2012 | 0.07 |
Over the past year, URTH and IAU have become more correlated (0.33) than their long-term average of 0.07, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
URTH vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
URTH
IAU
URTH vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) 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.
| URTH | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.04 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.17 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.55 | 0.88 | +1.67 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.29 | 2.37 | +8.91 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
URTH vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum URTH drawdown since its inception was -34.01%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for URTH and IAU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| URTH | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.01% | -45.14% | +11.13% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.06% | -24.40% | +15.34% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.94% | -24.40% | +7.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.05% | -24.40% | -1.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.01% | -24.40% | -9.61% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.63% | -23.87% | +21.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.36% | -15.97% | +11.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.05% | 9.07% | -7.02% |
Volatility
URTH vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) is 4.71%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 8.10%. This indicates that URTH 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| URTH | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.71% | 8.10% | -3.39% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.26% | 24.23% | -13.97% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.66% | 27.38% | -14.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.28% | 18.18% | -1.90% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.20% | 15.98% | +1.22% |
URTH vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
URTH has a 0.24% 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
URTH vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
URTH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.42%, 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% |
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF | 1.42% | 1.48% | 1.47% | 1.70% | 1.68% | 1.50% | 1.52% | 2.16% | 2.30% | 1.88% | 2.15% | 2.35% |
Frequently Asked Questions
URTH and IAU have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAU has higher volatility (8.10%) compared to URTH (4.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, URTH dropped -34.01% vs IAU's -45.14%.
On 10-year performance, URTH leads with 13.44% vs 11.76% for IAU. On fees, URTH is cheaper at 0.24% per year. On volatility, URTH has been the lower-risk option at 4.71%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, URTH has performed better with a 13.44% return vs 11.76%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
URTH is cheaper with a 0.24% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.
URTH has the higher dividend yield at 1.42%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
URTH is categorized as Global Equities, while IAU is Gold. URTH tracks MSCI World Index (Net), while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.24% for URTH and 0.25% for IAU.
URTH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.83 vs 0.79), 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.
Find the right allocation for URTH and IAU
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer