IAU vs VNQ
Comparison between iShares Gold Trust (IAU, ETF) and VANGUARD REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND ETF SHARES (VNQ, ETF).
5-Year PerformanceIAU has outperformed VNQ, delivering a return of +20.7% compared to +4.3%
IAU vs VNQ - Performance Comparison
Key Characteristics
Financial metrics and valuation ratios
Net Assets
Winner
IAU
$72B
VNQ
$70B
Expense Ratio
IAU
0.25%
Winner
VNQ
0.13%
Max Drawdown
Winner
IAU
45.14%
VNQ
75.76%
Sharpe Ratio
Winner
IAU
1.30
VNQ
0.69
5Y Beta
Winner
IAU
0.18
VNQ
0.54
P/E Ratio
IAU
N/A
VNQ
34.48
Forward P/E
IAU
N/A
VNQ
33.14
5Y Dividends CAGR
IAU
N/A
VNQ
10.46%
5Y EPS CAGR
IAU
N/A
VNQ
9.59%
Debt to Equity
IAU
N/A
VNQ
9.51%
P/S Ratio
IAU
N/A
VNQ
5.38
P/B Ratio
IAU
N/A
VNQ
2.66
IAU vs VNQ - Historical Returns
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
1M
IAU
-0.56%
Winner
VNQ
+3.60%
3M
IAU
-4.08%
Winner
VNQ
+4.80%
6M
Winner
IAU
+12.23%
VNQ
+8.96%
1Y
Winner
IAU
+45.43%
VNQ
+12.22%
5Y(CAGR)
Winner
IAU
+20.67%
VNQ
+4.31%
10Y(CAGR)
Winner
IAU
+13.75%
VNQ
+5.37%
Max(CAGR)
Winner
IAU
+11.63%
VNQ
+7.63%
IAU vs VNQ - Annual Returns (2004 - 2026)
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
| Year | IAU | VNQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +8.77% | +10.40% |
| 2025 | +61.73% | +4.19% |
| 2024 | +27.14% | +3.91% |
| 2023 | +11.90% | +11.68% |
| 2022 | +0.96% | -25.66% |
| 2021 | -6.17% | +45.24% |
| 2020 | +24.09% | -3.55% |
| 2019 | +17.89% | +31.73% |
| 2018 | -3.00% | -5.67% |
| 2017 | +12.10% | +4.57% |
| 2016 | +6.74% | +9.93% |
| 2015 | -11.04% | +0.90% |
| 2014 | -3.70% | +30.34% |
| 2013 | -28.76% | +1.05% |
| 2012 | +4.09% | +16.64% |
| 2011 | +10.20% | +6.63% |
| 2010 | +26.49% | +28.91% |
| 2009 | +24.34% | +34.35% |
| 2008 | +2.09% | -36.80% |
| 2007 | +32.34% | -16.63% |
| 2006 | +18.87% | +32.63% |
| 2005 | +21.17% | +13.26% |
| 2004 | N/A | +15.98% |
IAU vs VNQ Drawdown Comparison
The maximum drawdown for IAU was -45.14%, occurring on Dec 2, 2015. Recovery took 2246 trading sessions.
The maximum drawdown for VNQ was -73.07%, occurring on Mar 6, 2009. Recovery took 1412 trading sessions.
The current IAU drawdown is -12.66%. The current VNQ drawdown is -1.45%.
| Rank | IAU | VNQ |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | -45.14% Aug 22, 2011 - Jul 27, 2020 | -73.07% Feb 7, 2007 - Sep 13, 2012 |
| #2 | -29.23% Mar 17, 2008 - Sep 16, 2009 | -42.42% Feb 21, 2020 - Apr 15, 2021 |
| #3 | -21.99% May 11, 2006 - Sep 18, 2007 | -34.50% Dec 31, 2021 - Oct 25, 2023 |
| #4 | -21.82% Aug 6, 2020 - Mar 4, 2024 | -17.97% May 21, 2013 - Jun 5, 2014 |
| #5 | -19.18% Jan 29, 2026 - Mar 26, 2026 | -17.24% Jan 27, 2015 - May 4, 2016 |
| #6 | -12.71% Dec 2, 2009 - May 11, 2010 | -16.23% Aug 1, 2016 - Jan 31, 2019 |
| #7 | -10.05% Oct 20, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025 | -11.10% Aug 2, 2005 - Jan 4, 2006 |
| #8 | -8.13% Oct 30, 2024 - Jan 30, 2025 | -9.62% Mar 17, 2006 - Jul 19, 2006 |
| #9 | -8.03% Dec 6, 2010 - Mar 1, 2011 | -9.02% Sep 14, 2012 - Jan 15, 2013 |
| #10 | -7.50% Jun 18, 2010 - Sep 14, 2010 | -8.92% Dec 22, 2004 - May 18, 2005 |
| #11 | -7.15% Apr 21, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025 | -7.67% Sep 3, 2021 - Oct 28, 2021 |
| #12 | -6.76% Dec 12, 2005 - Jan 3, 2006 | -7.58% Sep 5, 2014 - Oct 27, 2014 |
| #13 | -6.61% Mar 11, 2005 - Aug 12, 2005 | -5.94% May 9, 2016 - Jun 28, 2016 |
| #14 | -6.13% Nov 7, 2007 - Dec 28, 2007 | -5.50% Nov 24, 2021 - Dec 7, 2021 |
| #15 | -5.90% Feb 2, 2006 - Mar 29, 2006 | -5.36% Oct 21, 2019 - Jan 16, 2020 |
Correlation
Correlation between IAU and VNQ is 0.72 which considered as a strong positive correlation - the stocks tend to move together.
0.72
-101
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