IAU vs SMH
Comparison between iShares Gold Trust (IAU, ETF) and VANECK SEMICONDUCTOR ETF (SMH, ETF).
5-Year PerformanceSMH has outperformed IAU, delivering a return of +38.4% compared to +18.7%
IAU vs SMH - Performance Comparison
Key Characteristics
Financial metrics and valuation ratios
Net Assets
Winner
IAU
$70B
SMH
$68B
Expense Ratio
Winner
IAU
0.25%
SMH
0.35%
Max Drawdown
Winner
IAU
45.14%
SMH
85.92%
Sharpe Ratio
IAU
0.82
Winner
SMH
2.64
5Y Beta
Winner
IAU
0.23
SMH
1.89
P/E Ratio
IAU
N/A
SMH
53.37
Forward P/E
IAU
N/A
SMH
30.63
PEG Ratio
IAU
N/A
SMH
0.13
5Y Dividends CAGR
IAU
N/A
SMH
3.73%
5Y EPS CAGR
IAU
N/A
SMH
36.89%
P/S Ratio
IAU
N/A
SMH
4.15
P/B Ratio
IAU
N/A
SMH
11.78
IAU vs SMH - Historical Returns
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
1M
IAU
-7.14%
Winner
SMH
+14.25%
3M
IAU
-15.34%
Winner
SMH
+57.22%
6M
IAU
-2.59%
Winner
SMH
+84.50%
1Y
IAU
+24.79%
Winner
SMH
+139.26%
5Y(CAGR)
IAU
+18.74%
Winner
SMH
+38.40%
10Y(CAGR)
IAU
+12.27%
Winner
SMH
+37.68%
Max(CAGR)
IAU
+11.01%
Winner
SMH
+11.66%
IAU vs SMH - Annual Returns (2000 - 2026)
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
| Year | IAU | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | -2.35% | +67.15% |
| 2025 | +61.73% | +47.57% |
| 2024 | +27.14% | +43.94% |
| 2023 | +11.90% | +74.72% |
| 2022 | +0.96% | -34.96% |
| 2021 | -6.17% | +41.85% |
| 2020 | +24.09% | +52.02% |
| 2019 | +17.89% | +63.24% |
| 2018 | -3.00% | -11.36% |
| 2017 | +12.10% | +38.21% |
| 2016 | +6.74% | +36.97% |
| 2015 | -11.04% | -0.14% |
| 2014 | -3.70% | +31.56% |
| 2013 | -28.76% | +28.23% |
| 2012 | +4.09% | +7.08% |
| 2011 | +10.20% | -0.15% |
| 2010 | +26.49% | +16.23% |
| 2009 | +24.34% | +54.76% |
| 2008 | +2.09% | -43.01% |
| 2007 | +32.34% | +1.38% |
| 2006 | +18.87% | -10.68% |
| 2005 | +21.17% | +12.01% |
| 2004 | N/A | -19.40% |
| 2003 | N/A | +74.92% |
| 2002 | N/A | -49.20% |
| 2001 | N/A | -13.35% |
| 2000 | N/A | -50.35% |
IAU vs SMH Drawdown Comparison
The maximum drawdown for IAU was -45.14%, occurring on Dec 2, 2015. Recovery took 2246 trading sessions.
The maximum drawdown for SMH was -84.96%, occurring on Nov 20, 2008. Recovery took 4247 trading sessions.
The current IAU drawdown is -21.59%. The current SMH drawdown is -3.57%.
| Rank | IAU | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | -45.14% Aug 22, 2011 - Jul 27, 2020 | -84.96% Jun 21, 2000 - May 10, 2017 |
| #2 | -29.23% Mar 17, 2008 - Sep 16, 2009 | -45.30% Dec 27, 2021 - Jul 13, 2023 |
| #3 | -24.40% Jan 29, 2026 - Jun 10, 2026 | -35.75% Jul 10, 2024 - Jul 2, 2025 |
| #4 | -21.99% May 11, 2006 - Sep 18, 2007 | -33.62% Feb 19, 2020 - Jun 5, 2020 |
| #5 | -21.82% Aug 6, 2020 - Mar 4, 2024 | -27.01% Mar 12, 2018 - Apr 3, 2019 |
| #6 | -12.71% Dec 2, 2009 - May 11, 2010 | -17.96% Apr 24, 2019 - Jul 23, 2019 |
| #7 | -10.05% Oct 20, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025 | -15.58% Feb 16, 2021 - Apr 5, 2021 |
| #8 | -8.13% Oct 30, 2024 - Jan 30, 2025 | -14.93% Feb 25, 2026 - Apr 9, 2026 |
| #9 | -8.03% Dec 6, 2010 - Mar 1, 2011 | -14.93% Mar 7, 2024 - May 20, 2024 |
| #10 | -7.50% Jun 18, 2010 - Sep 14, 2010 | -14.42% Jul 31, 2023 - Nov 14, 2023 |
| #11 | -7.15% Apr 21, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025 | -13.04% Apr 5, 2021 - Jun 28, 2021 |
| #12 | -6.76% Dec 12, 2005 - Jan 3, 2006 | -12.23% Jan 23, 2018 - Mar 6, 2018 |
| #13 | -6.61% Mar 11, 2005 - Aug 12, 2005 | -12.18% Jul 24, 2019 - Oct 15, 2019 |
| #14 | -6.13% Nov 7, 2007 - Dec 28, 2007 | -11.80% Oct 29, 2025 - Dec 9, 2025 |
| #15 | -5.90% Feb 2, 2006 - Mar 29, 2006 | -10.75% Sep 2, 2020 - Oct 9, 2020 |
Correlation
Correlation between IAU and SMH is 0.90 which considered as a very strong positive correlation - the stocks move almost identically together.
0.90
-101
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