XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L
XGDU.L (Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities) and ISLN.L (iShares Physical Silver ETC) are both exchange-traded funds - XGDU.L is a Precious Metals fund tracking the Gold, while ISLN.L is a Silver fund tracking the LBMA Silver Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XGDU.L returned 18.61%/yr vs 21.30%/yr for ISLN.L. A 0.74 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XGDU.L charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for ISLN.L.
Performance
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XGDU.L achieves a 3.77% return, which is significantly higher than ISLN.L's 2.87% return.
XGDU.L
- 1D
- 0.58%
- 1M
- -2.38%
- YTD
- 3.77%
- 6M
- 5.98%
- 1Y
- 32.35%
- 3Y*
- 31.54%
- 5Y*
- 18.61%
- 10Y*
- —
ISLN.L
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- 0.11%
- YTD
- 2.87%
- 6M
- 29.09%
- 1Y
- 113.78%
- 3Y*
- 45.97%
- 5Y*
- 21.30%
- 10Y*
- 15.84%
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XGDU.L Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities | 3.77% | 64.71% | 26.20% | 13.45% | 0.32% | -3.91% | 9.83% |
ISLN.L iShares Physical Silver ETC | 2.87% | 147.59% | 21.12% | -0.77% | 3.39% | -12.85% | 73.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between XGDU.L and ISLN.L is 0.75, 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 | 0.75 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.74 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 28, 2020 | 0.74 |
The correlation between XGDU.L and ISLN.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.75 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L — Risk / Return Rank
XGDU.L
ISLN.L
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities (XGDU.L) 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.
| XGDU.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.69 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.61 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.35 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.84 | 2.78 | -0.94 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.73 | 6.08 | -1.35 |
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
| XGDU.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 1.99 | -0.69 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.08 | 0.60 | +0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.51 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.00 | 0.12 | +0.88 |
Drawdowns
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XGDU.L drawdown since its inception was -21.59%, smaller than the maximum ISLN.L drawdown of -76.63%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XGDU.L and ISLN.L.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XGDU.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -21.59% | -76.63% | +55.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.47% | -40.67% | +23.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.47% | -40.67% | +23.20% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.00% | -40.67% | +19.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -42.90% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -15.82% | -35.25% | +19.43% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.31% | -54.28% | +46.97% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.82% | 18.63% | -11.81% |
Volatility
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC Securities (XGDU.L) is 6.39%, while iShares Physical Silver ETC (ISLN.L) has a volatility of 17.61%. This indicates that XGDU.L 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.
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Volatility by Period
| XGDU.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.39% | 17.61% | -11.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.85% | 54.22% | -32.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.87% | 56.90% | -32.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.32% | 35.49% | -18.17% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.31% | 30.92% | -13.61% |
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
XGDU.L has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is lower than ISLN.L's 0.20% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
XGDU.L vs. ISLN.L - Dividend Comparison
Neither XGDU.L nor ISLN.L has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
XGDU.L and ISLN.L have a correlation of 0.75, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, XGDU.L is cheaper at 0.12% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
XGDU.L is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for ISLN.L.
XGDU.L is categorized as Precious Metals, while ISLN.L is Silver. XGDU.L tracks Gold, while ISLN.L tracks LBMA Silver Price. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.12% for XGDU.L and 0.20% for ISLN.L.
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