ZROZ vs. GLD
ZROZ (PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury Index Fund) and GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - ZROZ is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA Long U.S. Treasury Principal STRIPS Index, while GLD is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ZROZ returned -4.28%/yr vs 12.15%/yr for GLD. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ZROZ charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for GLD.
Performance
ZROZ vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ZROZ achieves a -0.11% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's -2.47% return. Over the past 10 years, ZROZ has underperformed GLD with an annualized return of -4.28%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively higher 12.15% annualized return.
ZROZ
- 1D
- -0.31%
- 1M
- 5.14%
- YTD
- -0.11%
- 6M
- -0.09%
- 1Y
- 2.42%
- 3Y*
- -6.87%
- 5Y*
- -11.89%
- 10Y*
- -4.28%
GLD
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- -7.37%
- YTD
- -2.47%
- 6M
- -2.25%
- 1Y
- 22.21%
- 3Y*
- 28.89%
- 5Y*
- 17.08%
- 10Y*
- 12.15%
ZROZ vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZROZ PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury Index Fund | -0.11% | -1.84% | -16.18% | 1.19% | -41.28% | -5.22% | 24.57% | 21.22% | -5.43% | 14.77% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | -2.47% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between ZROZ and GLD is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 4, 2009 | 0.20 |
The correlation between ZROZ and GLD shifts across timeframes, from 0.11 (1 year) to 0.28 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ZROZ vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank
ZROZ
GLD
ZROZ vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury Index Fund (ZROZ) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ZROZ | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.83 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.06 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.02 | 1.18 | -0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.05 | 0.98 | -0.93 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.10 | 2.81 | -2.71 |
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Drawdowns
ZROZ vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ZROZ drawdown since its inception was -62.93%, which is greater than GLD's maximum drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZROZ and GLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ZROZ | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.93% | -45.56% | -17.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.02% | -24.46% | +10.44% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -28.62% | -24.46% | -4.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -57.98% | -24.46% | -33.52% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -62.93% | -24.46% | -38.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -59.54% | -22.05% | -37.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -24.10% | -16.16% | -7.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.31% | 8.49% | -2.18% |
Volatility
ZROZ vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury Index Fund (ZROZ) is 4.59%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 7.79%. This indicates that ZROZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ZROZ | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.59% | 7.79% | -3.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.78% | 24.10% | -13.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.12% | 27.37% | -11.25% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.89% | 18.22% | +5.67% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.06% | 16.08% | +5.98% |
ZROZ vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
ZROZ has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than GLD's 0.40% expense ratio.
Dividends
ZROZ vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
ZROZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.10%, while GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
ZROZ PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury Index Fund | 5.10% | 4.96% | 4.58% | 3.52% | 2.76% | 1.60% | 1.68% | 2.22% | 2.06% | 2.53% | 3.00% | 2.98% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ZROZ and GLD have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GLD has higher volatility (7.79%) compared to ZROZ (4.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ZROZ dropped -62.93% vs GLD's -45.56%.
On 10-year performance, GLD leads with 12.15% vs -4.28% for ZROZ. On fees, ZROZ is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, ZROZ has been the lower-risk option at 4.59%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, GLD has performed better with a 12.15% return vs -4.28%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ZROZ is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for GLD.
ZROZ has the higher dividend yield at 5.10%, compared with 0.00% for GLD.
ZROZ is categorized as Government Bonds, while GLD is Gold. ZROZ tracks ICE BofA Long U.S. Treasury Principal STRIPS Index, while GLD tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: PIMCO and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for ZROZ and 0.40% for GLD.
GLD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.87 vs 0.04), 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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