XAUUSD=X vs. MRK
XAUUSD=X (Gold Spot Price US Dollar) is a currency, while MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XAUUSD=X returned 13.00%/yr vs 11.61%/yr for MRK. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
XAUUSD=X vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XAUUSD=X achieves a -0.01% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 14.39% return. Over the past 10 years, XAUUSD=X has outperformed MRK with an annualized return of 13.00%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively lower 11.61% annualized return.
XAUUSD=X
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -8.35%
- YTD
- -0.01%
- 6M
- 3.14%
- 1Y
- 30.53%
- 3Y*
- 30.15%
- 5Y*
- 18.02%
- 10Y*
- 13.00%
MRK
- 1D
- -1.05%
- 1M
- 7.31%
- YTD
- 14.39%
- 6M
- 22.75%
- 1Y
- 56.85%
- 3Y*
- 5.78%
- 5Y*
- 13.57%
- 10Y*
- 11.61%
XAUUSD=X vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XAUUSD=X Gold Spot Price US Dollar | -0.01% | 64.75% | 27.24% | 13.14% | -0.25% | -3.50% | 24.55% | 18.77% | -1.71% | 13.14% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 14.39% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between XAUUSD=X and MRK is 0.08, 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 | 0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 2, 2007 | 0.02 |
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Return for Risk
XAUUSD=X vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
XAUUSD=X
MRK
XAUUSD=X vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK). 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.
| XAUUSD=X | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.62 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.36 | -0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.18 | 5.03 | -3.85 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.95 | 12.59 | -9.64 |
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
| XAUUSD=X | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.05 | 2.10 | -1.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.97 | 0.58 | +0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.80 | 0.51 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.58 | 0.48 | +0.10 |
Drawdowns
XAUUSD=X vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XAUUSD=X drawdown since its inception was -44.69%, smaller than the maximum MRK drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XAUUSD=X and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XAUUSD=X | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -44.69% | -68.61% | +23.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -20.42% | -11.37% | -9.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.42% | -43.44% | +23.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.81% | -43.44% | +22.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.35% | -43.44% | +22.09% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -20.24% | -4.65% | -15.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.43% | -18.84% | +2.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.95% | 4.53% | +4.42% |
Volatility
XAUUSD=X vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Gold Spot Price US Dollar (XAUUSD=X) is 5.62%, while Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a volatility of 9.44%. This indicates that XAUUSD=X experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MRK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XAUUSD=X | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.62% | 9.44% | -3.82% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.62% | 18.14% | +3.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.86% | 27.30% | -4.44% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.58% | 23.71% | -7.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.10% | 22.96% | -7.86% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XAUUSD=X and MRK have a correlation of 0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MRK has higher volatility (9.44%) compared to XAUUSD=X (5.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XAUUSD=X dropped -44.69% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.10 vs 1.05), 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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