XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L
XGLS.L (Xtrackers Physical Gold GBP Hedged ETC) and ISLN.L (iShares Physical Silver ETC) are both exchange-traded funds - XGLS.L is a Precious Metals fund tracking the Gold (GBP Hedged), while ISLN.L is a Silver fund tracking the LBMA Silver Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XGLS.L returned 11.69%/yr vs 16.65%/yr for ISLN.L. A 0.67 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XGLS.L charges 0.69%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for ISLN.L.
Performance
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
XGLS.L is traded in GBp, while ISLN.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the ISLN.L values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XGLS.L achieves a 2.29% return, which is significantly lower than ISLN.L's 2.81% return. Over the past 10 years, XGLS.L has underperformed ISLN.L with an annualized return of 11.69%, while ISLN.L has yielded a comparatively higher 16.65% annualized return.
XGLS.L
- 1D
- -1.39%
- 1M
- -4.31%
- YTD
- 2.29%
- 6M
- 4.33%
- 1Y
- 30.74%
- 3Y*
- 29.56%
- 5Y*
- 16.90%
- 10Y*
- 11.69%
ISLN.L
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.56%
- YTD
- 2.81%
- 6M
- 27.61%
- 1Y
- 114.86%
- 3Y*
- 42.09%
- 5Y*
- 22.50%
- 10Y*
- 16.65%
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XGLS.L Xtrackers Physical Gold GBP Hedged ETC | 2.29% | 63.07% | 24.85% | 11.63% | -1.63% | -4.91% | 22.11% | 15.69% | -3.62% | 9.65% |
ISLN.L iShares Physical Silver ETC | 3.28% | 129.95% | 23.24% | -5.73% | 15.69% | -12.02% | 41.57% | 11.93% | -3.35% | -5.28% |
Correlation
The correlation between XGLS.L and ISLN.L is 0.72, 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 | 0.72 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 5, 2011 | 0.67 |
The correlation between XGLS.L and ISLN.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.67 to 0.72 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L — Risk / Return Rank
XGLS.L
ISLN.L
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers Physical Gold GBP Hedged ETC (XGLS.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.
| XGLS.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.82 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.75 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.36 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.68 | 2.94 | -1.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.44 | 6.45 | -2.02 |
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
| XGLS.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 2.05 | -0.82 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.98 | 0.66 | +0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.75 | 0.55 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.35 | 0.17 | +0.19 |
Drawdowns
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XGLS.L drawdown since its inception was -46.55%, smaller than the maximum ISLN.L drawdown of -69.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XGLS.L and ISLN.L.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XGLS.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.55% | -69.93% | +23.38% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -18.19% | -38.79% | +20.60% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.19% | -38.79% | +20.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.88% | -38.79% | +16.91% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.99% | -38.79% | +15.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -16.80% | -33.94% | +17.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.38% | -45.59% | +22.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.91% | 17.73% | -10.82% |
Volatility
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Xtrackers Physical Gold GBP Hedged ETC (XGLS.L) is 6.43%, while iShares Physical Silver ETC (ISLN.L) has a volatility of 17.01%. This indicates that XGLS.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
| XGLS.L | ISLN.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.43% | 17.01% | -10.58% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.82% | 52.85% | -31.03% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.79% | 55.64% | -30.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.26% | 33.87% | -16.61% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.52% | 30.10% | -14.58% |
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
XGLS.L has a 0.69% expense ratio, which is higher than ISLN.L's 0.20% expense ratio.
Dividends
XGLS.L vs. ISLN.L - Dividend Comparison
Neither XGLS.L nor ISLN.L has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
XGLS.L and ISLN.L have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, ISLN.L is cheaper at 0.20% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
ISLN.L is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.69% for XGLS.L.
XGLS.L is categorized as Precious Metals, while ISLN.L is Silver. XGLS.L tracks Gold (GBP Hedged), while ISLN.L tracks LBMA Silver Price. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.69% for XGLS.L and 0.20% for ISLN.L.
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