iShares Gold Trust

10-Year Study

IAU.US · · US · ETF

Executive Summary: iShares Gold Trust has compounded at 14.6% annually over the last 10 years, with a maximum drawdown of 17.9% and an annualized volatility of 14.3%.

1Y CAGR
+50.0%
3Y CAGR
+35.4%
5Y CAGR
+20.4%
10Y CAGR
+14.6%

History & Riski10-year historical performance analysis including CAGR, Max Drawdown, Sharpe & Sortino ratios, annual returns, and rolling volatility — all computed from daily market data.

10-Year Growth of $10,000

Max DrawdownMax DrawdownThe largest peak-to-trough decline in the asset's value over the measurement period.Click for full definition →
17.9%
Sharpe RatioSharpe RatioRisk-adjusted return: how much excess return you earn per unit of total risk (volatility).Click for full definition →
0.73
Sortino RatioSortino RatioLike Sharpe, but only penalizes downside volatility — a more accurate risk measure for asymmetric return distributions.Click for full definition →
1.41
Ann. VolatilityAnnualized VolatilityThe annualized standard deviation of an asset's returns — a measure of how much prices fluctuate.Click for full definition →
14.8%
Best YearBest & Worst YearThe single calendar year with the highest and lowest return in the measured period.Click for full definition →
2025 · +63.9%
Worst YearBest & Worst YearThe single calendar year with the highest and lowest return in the measured period.Click for full definition →
2021 · -4.0%
% Positive Years% Positive YearsThe percentage of calendar years in the measurement period where the asset delivered a positive return.Click for full definition →
70%

Annual Returns

Rolling 12-Month Returns

Rolling 12-Month Annualised Volatility

Historical Drawdowns

Monthly Returns

Monthly Returns Heatmap

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnn.
202612.48.6-11.02.3————————11.1%
20256.81.99.45.4-0.00.3-0.65.011.83.65.32.263.9%
2024-1.40.48.73.11.6-0.15.42.15.14.3-3.1-1.526.9%
20235.8-5.47.90.9-1.4-2.22.2-1.2-4.87.42.51.312.8%
2022-1.76.11.4-2.1-3.2-1.6-2.5-3.0-2.9-1.78.52.9-0.6%
2021-3.2-6.3-1.13.67.6-7.02.5-0.1-3.21.6-0.73.4-4.0%
20204.6-0.70.06.92.62.811.0-0.5-4.2-0.6-5.37.025.0%
20192.8-0.5-1.6-0.71.87.90.17.7-3.22.6-3.33.718.0%
20183.3-2.00.6-0.9-1.3-3.5-2.3-2.0-0.62.10.35.0-1.8%
20175.33.2-0.21.7-0.1-2.12.34.1-3.2-0.80.32.112.9%
2016———5.1-6.18.92.0-3.20.7-2.9-8.4-1.9-6.7%

Risk X-RayiA 19-factor macroeconomic risk decomposition showing exactly which market forces (equity beta, rates, inflation, credit, commodity, crypto) drive this asset's volatility. Powered by multivariate regression against daily factor returns.

Risk Profile Insight: This asset has an estimated annualized volatility of 14.3%. The dominant macroeconomic risk driver is GLD.US, accounting for 99.9% of variance. Idiosyncratic stock-specific factors contribute 0.0%.

10-Year Historical Price Series (Growth of $10,000)
DateSimulated Value
2016-03-0110000
2016-04-0110505.050505050503
2016-05-019865.319865319865
2016-06-0110740.740740740739
2016-07-0110959.595959595958
2016-08-0110606.060606060606
2016-09-0110681.818181818182
2016-10-0110370.37037037037
2016-11-019503.367003367002
2016-12-019326.599326599326
2017-01-019823.232323232323
2017-02-0110134.680134680135
2017-03-0110109.427609427608
2017-04-0110277.777777777777
2017-05-0110269.360269360268
2017-06-0110050.50505050505
2017-07-0110286.195286195285
2017-08-0110707.070707070707
2017-09-0110361.952861952861
2017-10-0110277.777777777777
2017-11-0110311.447811447812
2017-12-0110530.30303030303
2018-01-0110875.420875420874
2018-02-0110656.565656565655
2018-03-0110715.488215488216
2018-04-0110622.895622895621
2018-05-0110488.215488215488
2018-06-0110117.845117845116
2018-07-019882.154882154882
2018-08-019680.13468013468
2018-09-019621.21212121212
2018-10-019823.232323232323
2018-11-019856.902356902357
2018-12-0110345.117845117844
2019-01-0110639.73063973064
2019-02-0110589.225589225589
2019-03-0110420.875420875422
2019-04-0110345.117845117844
2019-05-0110530.30303030303
2019-06-0111363.636363636362
2019-07-0111380.47138047138
2019-08-0112255.892255892255
2019-09-0111868.68686868687
2019-10-0112171.717171717171
2019-11-0111767.676767676767
2019-12-0112205.387205387204
2020-01-0112769.360269360268
2020-02-0112685.185185185184
2020-03-0112685.185185185184
2020-04-0113560.60606060606
2020-05-0113914.141414141415
2020-06-0114301.3468013468
2020-07-0115875.420875420874
2020-08-0115799.663299663298
2020-09-0115143.09764309764
2020-10-0115058.922558922559
2020-11-0114267.676767676767
2020-12-0115260.94276094276
2021-01-0114772.727272727272
2021-02-0113838.38383838384
2021-03-0113686.868686868687
2021-04-0114183.501683501685
2021-05-0115260.94276094276
2021-06-0114187.710437710437
2021-07-0114545.454545454546
2021-08-0114532.828282828283
2021-09-0114061.44781144781
2021-10-0114280.30303030303
2021-11-0114175.084175084174
2021-12-0114650.6734006734
2022-01-0114402.356902356902
2022-02-0115281.986531986531
2022-03-0115500.84175084175
2022-04-0115168.350168350167
2022-05-0114675.925925925923
2022-06-0114440.23569023569
2022-07-0114078.282828282829
2022-08-0113661.61616161616
2022-09-0113270.20202020202
2022-10-0113038.720538720538
2022-11-0114141.414141414141
2022-12-0114558.08080808081
2023-01-0115399.83164983165
2023-02-0114570.707070707069
2023-03-0115728.114478114476
2023-04-0115871.212121212122
2023-05-0115656.565656565657
2023-06-0115315.656565656565
2023-07-0115656.565656565657
2023-08-0115467.171717171717
2023-09-0114726.430976430975
2023-10-0115820.707070707072
2023-11-0116220.53872053872
2023-12-0116426.767676767675
2024-01-0116199.49494949495
2024-02-0116266.835016835015
2024-03-0117680.97643097643
2024-04-0118223.905723905722
2024-05-0118514.309764309764
2024-06-0118489.057239057238
2024-07-0119486.531986531983
2024-08-0119898.989898989897
2024-09-0120917.508417508416
2024-10-0121818.181818181816
2024-11-0121148.989898989897
2024-12-0120837.542087542086
2025-01-0122251.6835016835
2025-02-0122672.558922558917
2025-03-0124814.814814814814
2025-04-0126165.824915824913
2025-05-0126161.61616161616
2025-06-0126245.791245791246
2025-07-0126098.484848484844
2025-08-0127398.989898989897
2025-09-0130627.104377104373
2025-10-0131729.79797979798
2025-11-0133421.717171717166
2025-12-0134162.45791245791
2026-01-0138383.83838383838
2026-02-0141696.12794612794
2026-03-0137104.377104377105
2026-04-0137946.12794612794
Annual Return Matrix
YearAnnual Return
20170.1290613718411553
2018-0.01758593125499608
20190.17982099267697316
20200.2503448275862068
2021-0.03998896856039702
2022-0.006320022981901707
20230.12836079791847355
20240.26851140148603636
20250.6394667743890123
20260.11075520512504622
Total Factor Risk
0.143437421202684
VTI.US Exposure
0.0019338469299363206
VEA.US Exposure
0.0019284986369861427
VWO.US Exposure
-0.0011152068497403426
QQQ.US Exposure
-0.0005892549722547831
VTV.US Exposure
-0.0014084614564224094
IJR.US Exposure
0.0001666367885079095
QUAL.US Exposure
-0.00003354150281665227
SHV.US Exposure
0.0006392258505291596
TLT.US Exposure
0.0000488942478106531
LQD.US Exposure
0.0004310252107165882
HYG.US Exposure
-0.0008730716089203397
GLD.US Exposure
0.9985113333943499
USO.US Exposure
0.00003394817322786165
VNQ.US Exposure
-0.00034955812975422644
BTC-USD.CC Exposure
-0.000025563721420611874
CPER.US Exposure
0.0003805282974978431
VIX.INDX Exposure
0.000012624958846112567
UUP.US Exposure
-0.000013576042581748605
TIP.US Exposure
0.00025992218226615496
Idiosyncratic Exposure
0.00006174961323655268
Value Score
50
Growth Score
50
Profit Score
37.5
Health Score
23.6
Yield Score
0
Moat Score
40

Factor Risk Decomposition

Share of annualised volatility attributable to each macro factor.

Total Est. Vol
14.3%

FundamentalsiCompany financial health metrics: P/E valuation, dividend yield, Piotroski F-Score (9-point profitability signal), Altman Z-Score (bankruptcy risk proxy), and a radar chart across 6 fundamental dimensions. Note: ETFs may show N/A for some metrics.

Fundamental Dimensions

Core Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)P/E RatioPrice-to-Earnings ratio — the market price of a stock divided by its earnings per share, a key valuation measure.Click for full definition →N/A
Dividend YieldDividend YieldAnnual dividend paid per share divided by the current share price — expressed as a percentage income return.Click for full definition →0.00%
Market Cap$0
Piotroski F-ScorePiotroski F-ScoreA 9-point scoring system evaluating a company's financial strength across profitability, leverage, and operating efficiency.Click for full definition →
9-point profitability signal
0.0/ 9
Weak
Altman Z-ScoreAltman Z-ScoreA bankruptcy prediction model that combines 5 financial ratios into a single score indicating financial distress risk.Click for full definition →
Bankruptcy risk proxy
1.18
Distress Zone
Income Simulation

Based on $10,000 initial investment.

Total Income Generated
$0
Avg Yield on Cost
0.00%

Momentum & MacroiPrice momentum indicators relative to key technical levels: distance from 50-Day SMA (intermediate trend), 200-Day SMA (long-term trend), 52-Week High (bullish proximity), and Beta (market sensitivity coefficient).

vs 50-Day SMAMoving Averages (SMA)A rolling average of an asset's price over a defined window — used to identify trends and momentum signals.Click for full definition →
-2.2%
Above/below 50-day moving average
vs 200-Day SMAMoving Averages (SMA)A rolling average of an asset's price over a defined window — used to identify trends and momentum signals.Click for full definition →
+14.4%
Above/below 200-day moving average
vs 52-Week High52-Week HighThe highest price an asset reached in the past 52 weeks — a key reference for momentum and valuation context.Click for full definition →
11.2% from high
Distance from 52-week high
BetaBetaA measure of an asset's sensitivity to broad market movements relative to a benchmark (e.g. S&P 500).Click for full definition →
0.67
Market sensitivity coefficient

Frequently Asked Questions & Methodology

Is iShares Gold Trust a high-risk investment?

iShares Gold Trust (IAU.US) has an annualized volatility of 14.3% and experienced a maximum drawdown of 17.9% over the last 10 years. Its primary macro risk driver is GLD.US.

What is the 10-year return of IAU.US?

Over the past 10 years, IAU.US has generated a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.6%. It has had a positive return in 70% of the years measured.

Data Methodology & Trust

The risk and return information on this page is pre-calculated mathematically using daily market data spanning a 10-year period. Fundamentals (such as P/E Ratio, Market Cap, and Dividend Yield) represent trailing averages and may not immediately reflect real-time live market fluctuations. Advanced scoring models like the Piotroski F-Score and Altman Z-Score are proxies applied to publicly available trailing-twelve-month financial statements and may not account for recent off-balance-sheet events, qualitative company shifts, or sector-specific capital structures. Macroeconomic factor exposures are estimated via multivariate regression against standard market indices. This data is provided for quantitative insight and backtesting research, and should not be misconstrued as tailored financial advice.

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