XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L
XGLD.L (Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC) and IGLN.L (iShares Physical Gold ETC) are both exchange-traded funds - XGLD.L is a Precious Metals fund tracking the Gold, while IGLN.L is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XGLD.L returned 13.32%/yr vs 13.40%/yr for IGLN.L. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. Both charge a 0.25% expense ratio.
Performance
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with XGLD.L having a 3.08% return and IGLN.L slightly lower at 3.00%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with XGLD.L having a 13.32% annualized return and IGLN.L not far ahead at 13.40%.
XGLD.L
- 1D
- -1.36%
- 1M
- -4.18%
- YTD
- 3.08%
- 6M
- 5.21%
- 1Y
- 32.33%
- 3Y*
- 30.96%
- 5Y*
- 18.31%
- 10Y*
- 13.32%
IGLN.L
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- -4.23%
- YTD
- 3.00%
- 6M
- 5.09%
- 1Y
- 32.44%
- 3Y*
- 31.11%
- 5Y*
- 18.45%
- 10Y*
- 13.40%
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XGLD.L Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC | 3.08% | 64.60% | 25.87% | 13.37% | -0.24% | -4.19% | 24.11% | 18.35% | -1.36% | 11.68% |
IGLN.L iShares Physical Gold ETC | 3.00% | 64.92% | 26.14% | 13.44% | -0.09% | -4.03% | 24.16% | 18.28% | -1.31% | 11.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between XGLD.L and IGLN.L is 0.99 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 13, 2011 | 0.96 |
The correlation between XGLD.L and IGLN.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.96 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L — Risk / Return Rank
XGLD.L
IGLN.L
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC (XGLD.L) and iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.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.
| XGLD.L | IGLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.25 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.78 | 1.86 | -0.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.75 | 4.85 | -0.11 |
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
| XGLD.L | IGLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 1.30 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.06 | 1.06 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 | 0.86 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.45 | +0.03 |
Drawdowns
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XGLD.L drawdown since its inception was -45.19%, roughly equal to the maximum IGLN.L drawdown of -45.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XGLD.L and IGLN.L.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XGLD.L | IGLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.19% | -45.24% | +0.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -18.08% | -17.36% | -0.72% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.08% | -17.36% | -0.72% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.06% | -21.15% | +0.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -21.21% | -21.15% | -0.06% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -16.45% | -16.23% | -0.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.99% | -19.80% | +0.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.80% | 6.66% | +0.14% |
Volatility
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L - Volatility Comparison
Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC (XGLD.L) and iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN.L) have volatilities of 6.46% and 6.40%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XGLD.L | IGLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.46% | 6.40% | +0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.84% | 21.73% | +0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.82% | 24.79% | +0.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.23% | 17.37% | -0.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.46% | 15.54% | -0.08% |
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both XGLD.L and IGLN.L have an expense ratio of 0.25%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
XGLD.L vs. IGLN.L - Dividend Comparison
Neither XGLD.L nor IGLN.L has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.99, XGLD.L and IGLN.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
Both ETFs have the same 0.25% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
XGLD.L and IGLN.L have the same expense ratio: 0.25% per year.
XGLD.L is categorized as Precious Metals, while IGLN.L is Gold. XGLD.L tracks Gold, while IGLN.L tracks LBMA Gold Price. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and iShares.
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