IWM vs IAU
Comparison between ISHARES RUSSELL 2000 ETF (IWM, ETF) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU, ETF).
5-Year PerformanceIAU has outperformed IWM, delivering a return of +20.5% compared to +6.0%
IWM vs IAU - Performance Comparison
Key Characteristics
Financial metrics and valuation ratios
Net Assets
Winner
IWM
$72B
IAU
$71B
Expense Ratio
Winner
IWM
0.19%
IAU
0.25%
Max Drawdown
IWM
59.89%
Winner
IAU
45.14%
Sharpe Ratio
Winner
IWM
1.84
IAU
1.25
5Y Beta
IWM
1.09
Winner
IAU
0.18
P/E Ratio
IWM
-406.62
IAU
N/A
Forward P/E
IWM
14.44
IAU
N/A
5Y Dividends CAGR
IWM
7.95%
IAU
N/A
5Y EPS CAGR
IWM
12.78%
IAU
N/A
P/S Ratio
IWM
1.30
IAU
N/A
P/B Ratio
IWM
2.08
IAU
N/A
IWM vs IAU - Historical Returns
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
1M
Winner
IWM
+9.10%
IAU
-0.19%
3M
Winner
IWM
+6.67%
IAU
-7.07%
6M
Winner
IWM
+18.22%
IAU
+17.82%
1Y
Winner
IWM
+42.77%
IAU
+42.56%
5Y(CAGR)
IWM
+6.04%
Winner
IAU
+20.55%
10Y(CAGR)
IWM
+11.26%
Winner
IAU
+13.83%
Max(CAGR)
IWM
+8.69%
Winner
IAU
+11.64%
IWM vs IAU - Annual Returns (2000 - 2026)
Returns include dividend reinvestment.
| Year | IWM | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +14.43% | +8.96% |
| 2025 | +12.57% | +61.73% |
| 2024 | +12.06% | +27.14% |
| 2023 | +17.49% | +11.90% |
| 2022 | -21.49% | +0.96% |
| 2021 | +16.05% | -6.17% |
| 2020 | +19.95% | +24.09% |
| 2019 | +24.69% | +17.89% |
| 2018 | -11.94% | -3.00% |
| 2017 | +14.02% | +12.10% |
| 2016 | +24.49% | +6.74% |
| 2015 | -3.91% | -11.04% |
| 2014 | +6.18% | -3.70% |
| 2013 | +34.73% | -28.76% |
| 2012 | +14.79% | +4.09% |
| 2011 | -6.07% | +10.20% |
| 2010 | +23.88% | +26.49% |
| 2009 | +26.00% | +24.34% |
| 2008 | -33.48% | +2.09% |
| 2007 | -1.92% | +32.34% |
| 2006 | +15.96% | +18.87% |
| 2005 | +5.83% | +21.17% |
| 2004 | +16.79% | N/A |
| 2003 | +43.62% | N/A |
| 2002 | -20.74% | N/A |
| 2001 | +5.46% | N/A |
| 2000 | +5.62% | N/A |
IWM vs IAU Drawdown Comparison
The maximum drawdown for IWM was -59.03%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 908 trading sessions.
The maximum drawdown for IAU was -45.14%, occurring on Dec 2, 2015. Recovery took 2246 trading sessions.
The current IWM drawdown is -0.92%. The current IAU drawdown is -12.50%.
| Rank | IWM | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | -59.03% Jul 9, 2007 - Feb 11, 2011 | -45.14% Aug 22, 2011 - Jul 27, 2020 |
| #2 | -41.13% Aug 31, 2018 - Nov 9, 2020 | -29.23% Mar 17, 2008 - Sep 16, 2009 |
| #3 | -38.67% Jul 17, 2000 - Oct 13, 2003 | -21.99% May 11, 2006 - Sep 18, 2007 |
| #4 | -31.91% Nov 8, 2021 - Nov 6, 2024 | -21.82% Aug 6, 2020 - Mar 4, 2024 |
| #5 | -28.92% Apr 29, 2011 - Sep 13, 2012 | -19.18% Jan 29, 2026 - Mar 26, 2026 |
| #6 | -27.50% Nov 25, 2024 - Sep 11, 2025 | -12.71% Dec 2, 2009 - May 11, 2010 |
| #7 | -25.68% Jun 23, 2015 - Nov 11, 2016 | -10.05% Oct 20, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025 |
| #8 | -14.19% Apr 5, 2004 - Nov 5, 2004 | -8.13% Oct 30, 2024 - Jan 30, 2025 |
| #9 | -14.14% May 8, 2006 - Nov 14, 2006 | -8.03% Dec 6, 2010 - Mar 1, 2011 |
| #10 | -12.70% Jul 3, 2014 - Dec 22, 2014 | -7.50% Jun 18, 2010 - Sep 14, 2010 |
| #11 | -12.14% Dec 28, 2004 - Jul 5, 2005 | -7.15% Apr 21, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025 |
| #12 | -11.03% Jan 22, 2026 - Apr 15, 2026 | -6.76% Dec 12, 2005 - Jan 3, 2006 |
| #13 | -10.72% Sep 14, 2012 - Jan 2, 2013 | -6.61% Mar 11, 2005 - Aug 12, 2005 |
| #14 | -9.60% Aug 2, 2005 - Dec 1, 2005 | -6.13% Nov 7, 2007 - Dec 28, 2007 |
| #15 | -9.55% Mar 15, 2021 - Nov 1, 2021 | -5.90% Feb 2, 2006 - Mar 29, 2006 |
Correlation
Correlation between IWM and IAU is 0.79 which considered as a strong positive correlation - the stocks tend to move together.
0.79
-101
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