VGOV.L vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard UK Gilt UCITS ETF Distributing (VGOV.L) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
VGOV.L and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VGOV.L is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Act UK Cnvt Gilts All Stocks TR GBP. It was launched on May 22, 2012. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. Both VGOV.L and IAU are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: VGOV.L or IAU.
Key characteristics
| VGOV.L | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -3.82% | 32.46% |
| 1Y Return | 3.38% | 37.03% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -10.64% | 14.45% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | -5.76% | 12.77% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | -0.38% | 8.63% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.48 | 2.65 |
| Sortino Ratio | 0.75 | 3.55 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.09 | 1.46 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.12 | 5.49 |
| Martin Ratio | 1.13 | 17.17 |
| Ulcer Index | 3.58% | 2.18% |
| Daily Std Dev | 8.41% | 14.19% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.28% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -32.72% | -1.80% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGOV.L and IAU is 0.37, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
VGOV.L vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, VGOV.L achieves a -3.82% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 32.46% return. Over the past 10 years, VGOV.L has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of -0.38%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 8.63% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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VGOV.L vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGOV.L has a 0.07% 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%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VGOV.L vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard UK Gilt UCITS ETF Distributing (VGOV.L) 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.
Dividends
VGOV.L vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
VGOV.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.04%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGOV.L Vanguard UK Gilt UCITS ETF Distributing | 4.04% | 3.16% | 1.87% | 1.09% | 1.16% | 1.38% | 1.57% | 1.62% | 1.62% | 1.92% | 2.05% | 1.90% |
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% |
Drawdowns
VGOV.L vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGOV.L drawdown since its inception was -39.28%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGOV.L and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VGOV.L vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard UK Gilt UCITS ETF Distributing (VGOV.L) is 2.51%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 3.45%. This indicates that VGOV.L 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.