VGZ vs. AAAU
VGZ (Vista Gold Corp.) is a stock, while AAAU (Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold PM Price. Over the past 5 years, VGZ returned 10.54%/yr vs 18.07%/yr for AAAU. At a 0.45 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
VGZ vs. AAAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGZ achieves a 5.58% return, which is significantly higher than AAAU's -4.75% return.
VGZ
- 1D
- -9.57%
- 1M
- -7.14%
- YTD
- 5.58%
- 6M
- -4.59%
- 1Y
- 103.92%
- 3Y*
- 59.25%
- 5Y*
- 10.54%
- 10Y*
- 2.85%
AAAU
- 1D
- -1.86%
- 1M
- -8.80%
- YTD
- -4.75%
- 6M
- -8.61%
- 1Y
- 21.51%
- 3Y*
- 28.67%
- 5Y*
- 18.07%
- 10Y*
- —
VGZ vs. AAAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGZ Vista Gold Corp. | 5.58% | 253.05% | 23.48% | -8.73% | -30.22% | -34.31% | 48.97% | 38.10% | -13.93% |
AAAU Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF | -4.75% | 64.06% | 26.91% | 12.96% | -0.50% | -4.01% | 25.02% | 18.17% | 8.28% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGZ and AAAU is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.49 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 15, 2018 | 0.45 |
The correlation between VGZ and AAAU has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.45 to 0.55 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VGZ vs. AAAU — Risk / Return Rank
VGZ
AAAU
VGZ vs. AAAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vista Gold Corp. (VGZ) and Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU). 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.
| VGZ | AAAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.48 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.87 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.17 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.47 | 0.89 | +1.58 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.22 | 2.39 | +2.84 |
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Drawdowns
VGZ vs. AAAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGZ drawdown since its inception was -99.06%, which is greater than AAAU's maximum drawdown of -24.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGZ and AAAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGZ | AAAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.06% | -24.38% | -74.68% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -42.30% | -24.38% | -17.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -46.23% | -24.38% | -21.85% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -77.37% | -24.38% | -52.99% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -85.10% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -84.28% | -23.83% | -60.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -70.37% | -6.28% | -64.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 19.97% | 9.05% | +10.92% |
Volatility
VGZ vs. AAAU - Volatility Comparison
Vista Gold Corp. (VGZ) has a higher volatility of 20.44% compared to Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) at 8.16%. This indicates that VGZ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AAAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGZ | AAAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 20.44% | 8.16% | +12.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 63.55% | 24.16% | +39.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 82.31% | 27.30% | +55.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 65.62% | 18.08% | +47.54% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 65.86% | 17.16% | +48.70% |
Dividends
VGZ vs. AAAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither VGZ nor AAAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
VGZ and AAAU have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VGZ has higher volatility (20.44%) compared to AAAU (8.16%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGZ dropped -99.06% vs AAAU's -24.38%.
VGZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.27 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.
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