WMT vs. IAU
WMT (Walmart Inc.) is a stock, while IAU (iShares Gold Trust) is Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Over the past 10 years, WMT returned 19.62%/yr vs 12.71%/yr for IAU. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
WMT vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WMT achieves a 7.98% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, WMT has outperformed IAU with an annualized return of 19.62%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively lower 12.71% annualized return.
WMT
- 1D
- 0.80%
- 1M
- -8.13%
- YTD
- 7.98%
- 6M
- 6.15%
- 1Y
- 23.97%
- 3Y*
- 34.37%
- 5Y*
- 22.47%
- 10Y*
- 19.62%
IAU
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -8.43%
- YTD
- 0.26%
- 6M
- 3.08%
- 1Y
- 30.27%
- 3Y*
- 29.88%
- 5Y*
- 17.71%
- 10Y*
- 12.71%
WMT vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WMT Walmart Inc. | 7.98% | 24.49% | 73.99% | 12.88% | -0.46% | 1.97% | 23.32% | 30.16% | -3.43% | 46.56% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.26% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between WMT and IAU is 0.04, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2005 | -0.01 |
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Return for Risk
WMT vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank
WMT
IAU
WMT vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Walmart Inc. (WMT) 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.
| WMT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.13 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.23 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.53 | 1.52 | +0.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.02 | 3.80 | +1.22 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| WMT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.02 | 1.14 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.04 | 0.99 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.91 | 0.80 | +0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.64 | 0.61 | +0.02 |
Drawdowns
WMT vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WMT drawdown since its inception was -77.14%, which is greater than IAU's maximum drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WMT and IAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WMT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -77.14% | -45.14% | -32.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.75% | -20.04% | +4.29% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.93% | -20.04% | -1.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.74% | -20.93% | -4.81% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.74% | -21.82% | -3.92% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.71% | -19.88% | +9.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.63% | -15.97% | +1.34% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.79% | 7.99% | -3.20% |
Volatility
WMT vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
Walmart Inc. (WMT) has a higher volatility of 10.26% compared to iShares Gold Trust (IAU) at 5.64%. This indicates that WMT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WMT | IAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.26% | 5.64% | +4.62% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.59% | 23.33% | -4.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.72% | 26.68% | -2.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.68% | 18.02% | +3.66% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.73% | 15.94% | +5.79% |
Dividends
WMT vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
WMT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.81%, 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% |
WMT Walmart Inc. | 0.81% | 0.84% | 0.92% | 1.45% | 1.58% | 1.52% | 1.50% | 1.78% | 2.23% | 2.07% | 2.89% | 3.20% |
Frequently Asked Questions
WMT and IAU have a correlation of 0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WMT has higher volatility (10.26%) compared to IAU (5.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WMT dropped -77.14% vs IAU's -45.14%.
IAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.14 vs 1.02), 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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