XJH vs. IAU

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

XJH (iShares ESG Screened S&P Mid-Cap ETF) and IAU (iShares Gold Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - XJH is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P MidCap 400 Sustainability Screened Index, while IAU is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XJH returned 7.22%/yr vs 17.65%/yr for IAU. At a 0.14 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XJH charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IAU.

Performance

XJH vs. IAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares ESG Screened S&P Mid-Cap ETF (XJH) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XJH achieves a 11.87% return, which is significantly higher than IAU's 0.06% return.

XJH

• 1D: -2.05%
• 1M: -0.88%
• YTD: 11.87%
• 6M: 11.82%
• 1Y: 24.57%
• 3Y*: 14.70%
• 5Y*: 7.22%
• 10Y*: —

IAU

• 1D: -3.63%
• 1M: -8.02%
• YTD: 0.06%
• 6M: 2.63%
• 1Y: 28.33%
• 3Y*: 29.73%
• 5Y*: 17.65%
• 10Y*: 12.97%

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

XJH vs. IAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
XJH iShares ESG Screened S&P Mid-Cap ETF	11.87%	8.12%	12.27%	16.74%	-14.36%	23.43%	29.59%
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.06%	63.95%	26.85%	12.84%	-0.63%	-4.00%	1.74%

Correlation

The correlation between XJH and IAU is 0.20, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.20
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.16
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.13
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 25, 2020	0.14

XJH vs. IAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XJH	IAU
Industrials	25.9%	-
Technology	16.0%	-
Financial Services	14.8%	-
Consumer Cyclical	11.3%	-
Healthcare	9.6%	-
Real Estate	8.2%	100.0%
Basic Materials	4.9%	-
Consumer Defensive	3.8%	-
Energy	2.9%	-
Utilities	1.6%	-
Communication Services	1.1%	-

Return for Risk

XJH vs. IAU — Risk / Return Rank

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

XJH

XJH Risk / Return Rank: 49
XJH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
XJH Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
XJH Omega Ratio Rank: 42
XJH Calmar Ratio Rank: 54
XJH Martin Ratio Rank: 57

IAU

IAU Risk / Return Rank: 29
IAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 30
IAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 27
IAU Omega Ratio Rank: 33
IAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
IAU Martin Ratio Rank: 27

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.

XJH vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Screened S&P Mid-Cap ETF (XJH) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). 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.

	XJH	IAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.51	1.07	+0.44
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.21	1.45	+0.77
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.26	1.22	+0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.57	1.42	+1.15
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.44	3.60	+5.84
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XJH vs. IAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XJH Sharpe Ratio is 1.51, which is higher than the IAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.07. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XJH and IAU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XJH	IAU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.51	1.07	+0.44
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.36	0.98	-0.62
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.82	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.74	0.61	+0.12

Drawdowns

XJH vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XJH drawdown since its inception was -25.07%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XJH and IAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	XJH	IAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-25.07%	-45.14%	+20.07%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.61%	-20.04%	+10.43%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-24.56%	-20.04%	-4.52%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.07%	-20.93%	-4.14%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-21.82%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.05%	-20.04%	+17.99%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.82%	-15.97%	+9.15%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.61%	7.89%	-5.28%

Volatility

XJH vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares ESG Screened S&P Mid-Cap ETF (XJH) is 4.49%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.64%. This indicates that XJH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XJH	IAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.49%	5.64%	-1.15%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.07%	23.33%	-11.26%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.39%	26.67%	-10.28%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.94%	18.01%	+1.93%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.89%	15.94%	+3.95%

XJH vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

XJH has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is lower than IAU's 0.25% 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

XJH vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison

XJH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.12%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
IAU iShares Gold Trust	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XJH iShares ESG Screened S&P Mid-Cap ETF	1.12%	1.24%	1.24%	1.38%	1.45%	1.04%	0.36%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XJH and IAU in my portfolio?

XJH and IAU have a correlation of 0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XJH or IAU?

IAU has higher volatility (5.64%) compared to XJH (4.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XJH dropped -25.07% vs IAU's -45.14%.

Which ETF is better, XJH or IAU?

On 5-year performance, IAU leads with 17.65% vs 7.22% for XJH. On fees, XJH is cheaper at 0.12% per year. On volatility, XJH has been the lower-risk option at 4.49%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XJH or IAU?

Over the 5-year period, IAU has performed better with a 17.65% return vs 7.22%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XJH or IAU?

XJH is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IAU.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XJH or IAU?

XJH has the higher dividend yield at 1.12%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.

What is the main difference between XJH and IAU?

XJH is categorized as Mid Cap Blend Equities, while IAU is Gold. XJH tracks S&P MidCap 400 Sustainability Screened Index, while IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price. Their fees differ too: 0.12% for XJH and 0.25% for IAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

XJH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.51 vs 1.07), 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.