VJPA.L vs. GLD

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

VJPA.L (Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc) and GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - VJPA.L is a Japan Equities fund tracking the FTSE Japan Index, while GLD is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VJPA.L returned 8.91%/yr vs 18.35%/yr for GLD. At a 0.19 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VJPA.L charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for GLD.

Performance

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc (VJPA.L) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VJPA.L achieves a 15.94% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's 3.77% return.

VJPA.L

• 1D: -0.19%
• 1M: 5.33%
• YTD: 15.94%
• 6M: 16.46%
• 1Y: 32.80%
• 3Y*: 18.65%
• 5Y*: 8.91%
• 10Y*: —

GLD

• 1D: 0.83%
• 1M: -1.67%
• YTD: 3.77%
• 6M: 6.24%
• 1Y: 32.28%
• 3Y*: 31.19%
• 5Y*: 18.35%
• 10Y*: 13.21%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VJPA.L Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc	15.94%	26.79%	6.72%	20.04%	-16.20%	0.35%	16.08%	4.51%
GLD SPDR Gold Shares	3.77%	63.68%	26.66%	12.69%	-0.77%	-4.15%	24.81%	0.78%

Correlation

The correlation between VJPA.L and GLD is 0.24, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.24
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.23
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.24
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 27, 2019	0.19

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VJPA.L	GLD
Industrials	26.6%	-
Technology	17.4%	-
Financial Services	15.9%	-
Consumer Cyclical	12.8%	-
Communication Services	7.1%	-
Healthcare	5.9%	-
Basic Materials	4.3%	100.0%
Consumer Defensive	4.2%	-
Real Estate	3.4%	-
Utilities	1.3%	-
Energy	1.0%	-

Return for Risk

VJPA.L vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank

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

VJPA.L

VJPA.L Risk / Return Rank: 51
VJPA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
VJPA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 52
VJPA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 51
VJPA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 54
VJPA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 52

GLD

GLD Risk / Return Rank: 34
GLD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
GLD Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
GLD Omega Ratio Rank: 38
GLD Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
GLD 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.

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc (VJPA.L) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.

	VJPA.L	GLD	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.64	1.22	+0.42
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.47	1.61	+0.86
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.31	1.24	+0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.65	1.69	+0.96
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.77	4.15	+4.62
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VJPA.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.64, which is higher than the GLD Sharpe Ratio of 1.22. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VJPA.L and GLD, 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

	VJPA.L	GLD	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.64	1.22	+0.42
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.50	1.02	-0.52
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.83	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.55	0.60	-0.05

Drawdowns

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VJPA.L drawdown since its inception was -32.06%, smaller than the maximum GLD drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VJPA.L and GLD.

Drawdown Indicators

	VJPA.L	GLD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-32.06%	-45.56%	+13.50%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.33%	-19.21%	+6.88%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.01%	-19.21%	+5.20%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-32.06%	-21.03%	-11.03%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-22.00%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.19%	-17.07%	+16.88%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.40%	-16.16%	+7.76%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.73%	7.81%	-4.08%

Volatility

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc (VJPA.L) is 4.47%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 5.50%. This indicates that VJPA.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VJPA.L	GLD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.47%	5.50%	-1.03%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.32%	23.16%	-6.84%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.95%	26.60%	-6.65%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.69%	18.00%	-0.31%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.75%	15.95%	+2.80%

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison

VJPA.L has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than GLD's 0.40% expense ratio.

Dividends

VJPA.L vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison

Neither VJPA.L nor GLD has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VJPA.L and GLD in my portfolio?

VJPA.L and GLD have a correlation of 0.24, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VJPA.L or GLD?

On fees, VJPA.L is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VJPA.L or GLD?

VJPA.L is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for GLD.

What is the main difference between VJPA.L and GLD?

VJPA.L is categorized as Japan Equities, while GLD is Gold. VJPA.L tracks FTSE Japan Index, while GLD tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for VJPA.L and 0.40% for GLD.