EFA vs IAU
Comparison between ISHARES MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA, ETF) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU, ETF).
5-Year PerformanceIAU has outperformed EFA, delivering a return of +20.7% compared to +9.2%
EFA vs IAU - Performance Comparison
Key Characteristics
Financial metrics and valuation ratios
Net Assets
Winner
EFA
$76B
IAU
$72B
Expense Ratio
EFA
0.32%
Winner
IAU
0.25%
Max Drawdown
EFA
63.18%
Winner
IAU
45.14%
Sharpe Ratio
EFA
1.29
Winner
IAU
1.30
5Y Beta
EFA
0.74
Winner
IAU
0.18
5Y Dividends CAGR
EFA
13.08%
IAU
N/A
EFA vs IAU - Historical Returns
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
1M
Winner
EFA
+0.32%
IAU
-0.56%
3M
Winner
EFA
-0.97%
IAU
-4.08%
6M
EFA
+8.76%
Winner
IAU
+12.23%
1Y
EFA
+23.63%
Winner
IAU
+45.43%
5Y(CAGR)
EFA
+9.20%
Winner
IAU
+20.67%
10Y(CAGR)
EFA
+9.24%
Winner
IAU
+13.75%
Max(CAGR)
EFA
+6.47%
Winner
IAU
+11.63%
EFA vs IAU - Annual Returns (2001 - 2026)
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
| Year | EFA | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +6.29% | +8.77% |
| 2025 | +32.00% | +61.73% |
| 2024 | +4.68% | +27.14% |
| 2023 | +17.36% | +11.90% |
| 2022 | -14.90% | +0.96% |
| 2021 | +10.88% | -6.17% |
| 2020 | +6.51% | +24.09% |
| 2019 | +22.28% | +17.89% |
| 2018 | -14.44% | -3.00% |
| 2017 | +24.32% | +12.10% |
| 2016 | +2.95% | +6.74% |
| 2015 | -0.57% | -11.04% |
| 2014 | -4.51% | -3.70% |
| 2013 | +19.53% | -28.76% |
| 2012 | +15.65% | +4.09% |
| 2011 | -12.97% | +10.20% |
| 2010 | +5.38% | +26.49% |
| 2009 | +25.33% | +24.34% |
| 2008 | -40.83% | +2.09% |
| 2007 | +9.51% | +32.34% |
| 2006 | +21.73% | +18.87% |
| 2005 | +14.14% | +21.17% |
| 2004 | +18.63% | N/A |
| 2003 | +36.90% | N/A |
| 2002 | -15.92% | N/A |
| 2001 | -5.19% | N/A |
EFA vs IAU Drawdown Comparison
The maximum drawdown for EFA was -61.04%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 1660 trading sessions.
The maximum drawdown for IAU was -45.14%, occurring on Dec 2, 2015. Recovery took 2246 trading sessions.
The current EFA drawdown is -2.39%. The current IAU drawdown is -12.66%.
| Rank | EFA | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | -61.04% Oct 31, 2007 - Jun 6, 2014 | -45.14% Aug 22, 2011 - Jul 27, 2020 |
| #2 | -34.19% Jan 26, 2018 - Nov 16, 2020 | -29.23% Mar 17, 2008 - Sep 16, 2009 |
| #3 | -31.40% Aug 24, 2001 - Oct 14, 2003 | -21.99% May 11, 2006 - Sep 18, 2007 |
| #4 | -29.49% Sep 7, 2021 - Feb 16, 2024 | -21.82% Aug 6, 2020 - Mar 4, 2024 |
| #5 | -22.97% May 15, 2015 - May 4, 2017 | -19.18% Jan 29, 2026 - Mar 26, 2026 |
| #6 | -15.76% May 9, 2006 - Oct 26, 2006 | -12.71% Dec 2, 2009 - May 11, 2010 |
| #7 | -14.53% Jul 2, 2014 - May 15, 2015 | -10.05% Oct 20, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025 |
| #8 | -14.05% Mar 19, 2025 - May 2, 2025 | -8.13% Oct 30, 2024 - Jan 30, 2025 |
| #9 | -11.58% Jul 12, 2007 - Oct 1, 2007 | -8.03% Dec 6, 2010 - Mar 1, 2011 |
| #10 | -11.42% Feb 25, 2026 - Mar 20, 2026 | -7.50% Jun 18, 2010 - Sep 14, 2010 |
| #11 | -10.14% Sep 26, 2024 - Mar 5, 2025 | -7.15% Apr 21, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025 |
| #12 | -9.81% Feb 17, 2004 - Oct 6, 2004 | -6.76% Dec 12, 2005 - Jan 3, 2006 |
| #13 | -7.67% Jul 12, 2024 - Aug 21, 2024 | -6.61% Mar 11, 2005 - Aug 12, 2005 |
| #14 | -7.59% Feb 26, 2007 - Apr 3, 2007 | -6.13% Nov 7, 2007 - Dec 28, 2007 |
| #15 | -7.19% Mar 4, 2005 - Aug 3, 2005 | -5.90% Feb 2, 2006 - Mar 29, 2006 |
Correlation
Correlation between EFA and IAU is 0.85 which considered as a strong positive correlation - the stocks tend to move together.
0.85
-101
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