URTH vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

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 13.19%/yr vs 13.31%/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

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) 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, URTH achieves a 10.16% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 2.98% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with URTH having a 13.19% annualized return and IAU not far ahead at 13.31%.

URTH

• 1D: -0.74%
• 1M: 4.65%
• YTD: 10.16%
• 6M: 10.88%
• 1Y: 26.06%
• 3Y*: 20.81%
• 5Y*: 11.86%
• 10Y*: 13.19%

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)

URTH vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF	10.16%	21.36%	18.66%	23.95%	-17.97%	22.27%	15.78%	28.15%	-8.56%	22.95%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	2.98%	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 0.26, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.26
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.22
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.19
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.12
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 13, 2012	0.07

The correlation between URTH and IAU shifts across timeframes, from 0.07 (all time) to 0.26 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

URTH vs. IAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	URTH	IAU
Technology	28.3%	-
Financial Services	15.8%	-
Industrials	11.3%	-
Consumer Cyclical	9.3%	-
Communication Services	9.3%	-
Healthcare	8.8%	-
Consumer Defensive	5.2%	-
Energy	4.2%	-
Basic Materials	3.3%	-
Utilities	2.7%	-
Real Estate	1.9%	100.0%

Return for Risk

URTH vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

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

URTH

URTH Risk / Return Rank: 63
URTH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
URTH Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
URTH Omega Ratio Rank: 63
URTH Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
URTH Martin Ratio Rank: 69

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.

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.

	URTH	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.17	1.23	+0.95
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.02	1.62	+1.40
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.39	1.24	+0.14
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.89	1.69	+1.20
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.11	4.19	+8.92
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

URTH vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current URTH Sharpe Ratio is 2.17, which is higher than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.23. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of URTH 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

	URTH	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.17	1.23	+0.95
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.74	1.03	-0.29
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.77	0.84	-0.07
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.73	0.62	+0.10

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.

Drawdown Indicators

	URTH	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.01%	-45.14%	+11.13%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.06%	-19.18%	+10.12%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-16.94%	-19.18%	+2.24%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.05%	-20.93%	-5.12%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-34.01%	-21.82%	-12.19%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.74%	-17.70%	+16.96%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.37%	-15.96%	+11.59%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.99%	7.71%	-5.72%

Volatility

URTH vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) is 3.27%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.50%. 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.

Volatility by Period

	URTH	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.27%	5.50%	-2.23%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.42%	23.02%	-13.60%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.05%	26.42%	-14.37%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.19%	17.95%	-1.76%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.27%	15.90%	+1.37%

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 1.35%, 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	1.35%	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

Can I hold both URTH and IAU in my portfolio?

URTH and IAU have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, URTH or IAU?

IAU has higher volatility (5.50%) compared to URTH (3.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, URTH dropped -34.01% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, URTH or IAU?

On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 13.31% vs 13.19% for URTH. On fees, URTH is cheaper at 0.24% per year. On volatility, URTH has been the lower-risk option at 3.27%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, URTH or IAU?

Over the 10-year period, IAU has performed better with a 13.31% return vs 13.19%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, URTH or IAU?

URTH is cheaper with a 0.24% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.

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

URTH has the higher dividend yield at 1.35%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between URTH and 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.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

URTH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 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.