VGIT vs. IAUM
VGIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF) and IAUM (iShares Gold Trust Micro) are both exchange-traded funds - VGIT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index, while IAUM is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, VGIT returned 3.69%/yr vs 29.28%/yr for IAUM. At a 0.35 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VGIT charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for IAUM.
Performance
VGIT vs. IAUM - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGIT achieves a -0.29% return, which is significantly higher than IAUM's -2.40% return.
VGIT
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 0.06%
- YTD
- -0.29%
- 6M
- 0.04%
- 1Y
- 3.19%
- 3Y*
- 3.69%
- 5Y*
- 0.01%
- 10Y*
- 1.20%
IAUM
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -10.19%
- YTD
- -2.40%
- 6M
- -2.08%
- 1Y
- 24.22%
- 3Y*
- 29.28%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VGIT vs. IAUM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | -0.29% | 7.34% | 1.39% | 4.28% | -10.53% | -0.66% |
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro | -2.40% | 64.27% | 27.04% | 13.12% | -0.49% | 3.87% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGIT and IAUM is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 29, 2021 | 0.35 |
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
VGIT vs. IAUM — Risk / Return Rank
VGIT
IAUM
VGIT vs. IAUM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) and iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM). 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.
| VGIT | IAUM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.21 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.19 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.13 | 1.00 | +0.13 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.18 | 2.87 | +0.31 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
VGIT vs. IAUM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGIT drawdown since its inception was -16.05%, smaller than the maximum IAUM drawdown of -24.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGIT and IAUM.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VGIT | IAUM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.05% | -24.37% | +8.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.83% | -24.37% | +21.54% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.34% | -24.37% | +20.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.02% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.05% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.22% | -21.99% | +19.77% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.52% | -5.38% | +1.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.01% | 8.46% | -7.45% |
Volatility
VGIT vs. IAUM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) is 1.15%, while iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) has a volatility of 7.71%. This indicates that VGIT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAUM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VGIT | IAUM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.15% | 7.71% | -6.56% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.40% | 23.82% | -21.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.34% | 27.06% | -23.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.38% | 18.05% | -12.67% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.50% | 18.05% | -13.55% |
VGIT vs. IAUM - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGIT has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than IAUM's 0.09% 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
VGIT vs. IAUM - Dividend Comparison
VGIT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.86%, while IAUM has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | 3.86% | 3.79% | 3.67% | 2.73% | 1.74% | 1.69% | 2.23% | 2.24% | 2.05% | 1.67% | 1.69% | 1.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGIT and IAUM have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAUM has higher volatility (7.71%) compared to VGIT (1.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGIT dropped -16.05% vs IAUM's -24.37%.
On 3-year performance, IAUM leads with 29.28% vs 3.69% for VGIT. On fees, VGIT is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VGIT has been the lower-risk option at 1.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, IAUM has performed better with a 29.28% return vs 3.69%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VGIT is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for IAUM.
VGIT has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 0.00% for IAUM.
VGIT is categorized as Government Bonds, while IAUM is Gold. VGIT tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index, while IAUM tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VGIT and 0.09% for IAUM.
VGIT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.96 vs 0.90), 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 VGIT and IAUM
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