XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L

Last updated Apr 3, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Silver Spot Price US Dollar (XAGUSD=X) and iShares Physical Silver ETC (ISLN.L).

ISLN.L is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the LBMA Silver Price. It was launched on Apr 8, 2011.

Performance

XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Silver Spot Price US Dollar (XAGUSD=X) and iShares Physical Silver ETC (ISLN.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XAGUSD=X Silver Spot Price US Dollar	1.53%	148.50%	21.59%	-0.79%	2.85%	-11.48%	47.14%	15.71%	-8.76%	6.61%
ISLN.L iShares Physical Silver ETC	0.67%	147.59%	21.12%	-0.77%	3.39%	-12.85%	45.85%	16.35%	-8.76%	3.68%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XAGUSD=X achieves a 1.53% return, which is significantly higher than ISLN.L's 0.67% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with XAGUSD=X having a 17.19% annualized return and ISLN.L not far behind at 16.68%.

XAGUSD=X

• 1D: -2.97%
• 1M: -11.17%
• YTD: 1.53%
• 6M: 55.08%
• 1Y: 114.85%
• 3Y*: 44.82%
• 5Y*: 24.24%
• 10Y*: 17.19%

ISLN.L

• 1D: -4.57%
• 1M: -13.11%
• YTD: 0.67%
• 6M: 56.44%
• 1Y: 112.04%
• 3Y*: 43.95%
• 5Y*: 23.62%
• 10Y*: 16.68%

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

Return for Risk

XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

XAGUSD=X

XAGUSD=X Risk / Return Rank: 91
XAGUSD=X Sharpe Ratio Rank: 96
XAGUSD=X Sortino Ratio Rank: 89
XAGUSD=X Omega Ratio Rank: 96
XAGUSD=X Calmar Ratio Rank: 87
XAGUSD=X Martin Ratio Rank: 85

ISLN.L

ISLN.L Risk / Return Rank: 85
ISLN.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
ISLN.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 84
ISLN.L Omega Ratio Rank: 88
ISLN.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
ISLN.L Martin Ratio Rank: 76

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.

XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Silver Spot Price US Dollar (XAGUSD=X) and iShares Physical Silver ETC (ISLN.L). 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.

	XAGUSD=X	ISLN.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.64	2.06	-0.42
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.90	2.36	-0.46
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.36	1.38	-0.02
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.28	3.08	-0.81
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	6.53	9.47	-2.94
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XAGUSD=X Sharpe Ratio is 1.64, which is comparable to the ISLN.L Sharpe Ratio of 2.06. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XAGUSD=X and ISLN.L, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XAGUSD=X	ISLN.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.64	2.06	-0.42
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.64	0.69	-0.05
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.53	0.55	-0.02
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.27	0.12	+0.15

Correlation

The correlation between XAGUSD=X and ISLN.L is 0.71, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Drawdowns

XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XAGUSD=X drawdown since its inception was -75.36%, roughly equal to the maximum ISLN.L drawdown of -76.63%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XAGUSD=X and ISLN.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	XAGUSD=X	ISLN.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-75.36%	-76.63%	+1.27%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-44.14%	-40.67%	-3.47%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-44.14%	-40.67%	-3.47%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-44.14%	-42.90%	-1.24%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-37.54%	-36.64%	-0.90%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-44.41%	-54.52%	+10.11%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	15.39%	13.24%	+2.15%

Volatility

XAGUSD=X vs. ISLN.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Silver Spot Price US Dollar (XAGUSD=X) is 16.31%, while iShares Physical Silver ETC (ISLN.L) has a volatility of 18.55%. This indicates that XAGUSD=X experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ISLN.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XAGUSD=X	ISLN.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	16.31%	18.55%	-2.24%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	56.73%	51.90%	+4.83%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	52.09%	54.09%	-2.00%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	33.89%	34.32%	-0.43%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	30.59%	30.29%	+0.30%