iShares Gold Trust (IAU): Historical Returns

Data Source: from January 1972 to March 2024 (~52 years)
Consolidated Returns as of 31 March 2024
Category: Commodities
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF
ETF • LIVE PERFORMANCE (USD currency)
8.69%
March 2024

In the last 30 Years, the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF obtained a 5.75% compound annual return, with a 15.49% standard deviation.

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The ETF is related to the following investment themes:

  • Asset Class: Commodity
  • Commodity: Gold

Investment Returns as of Mar 31, 2024

The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF guaranteed the following returns.

Returns are calculated in USD, assuming:
  • no fees or capital gain taxes.
  • the actual US Inflation rates.
ISHARES GOLD TRUST (IAU) ETF
Consolidated returns as of 31 March 2024
Swipe left to see all data
  Chg (%) Return (%) Return (%) as of Mar 31, 2024
  1 Day Time ET(*) Apr 2024 1M 6M 1Y 5Y 10Y 30Y MAX
(~52Y)
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF n.a. n.a. 8.69 20.06 12.42 11.15 5.38 5.75 7.68
US Inflation Adjusted return 8.28 18.16 8.64 6.68 2.47 3.13 3.58
Returns over 1 year are annualized | Available data source: since Jan 1972
(*) Eastern Time (ET - America/New York)
US Inflation is updated to Mar 2024. Current inflation (annualized) is 1Y: 3.48% , 5Y: 4.19% , 10Y: 2.84% , 30Y: 2.54%

Capital Growth as of Mar 31, 2024

An investment of 1$, since April 1994, now would be worth 5.35$, with a total return of 435.18% (5.75% annualized).

The Inflation Adjusted Capital now would be 2.52$, with a net total return of 152.14% (3.13% annualized).
An investment of 1$, since January 1972, now would be worth 47.83$, with a total return of 4682.85% (7.68% annualized).

The Inflation Adjusted Capital now would be 6.30$, with a net total return of 529.58% (3.58% annualized).

Investment Metrics as of Mar 31, 2024

Metrics of iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF, updated as of 31 March 2024.

Metrics are calculated based on monthly returns, assuming:
  • no fees or capital gain taxes.
  • the actual US Inflation rates.
ISHARES GOLD TRUST (IAU) ETF
Advanced Metrics
Data Source: 1 January 1972 - 31 March 2024 (~52 years)
Swipe left to see all data
Metrics as of Mar 31, 2024
1M 3M 6M 1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
(~52Y)
Investment Return (%) 8.69 7.64 20.06 12.42 8.91 11.15 5.38 8.29 5.75 7.68
Infl. Adjusted Return (%) details 8.28 6.43 18.16 8.64 3.10 6.68 2.47 5.55 3.13 3.58
US Inflation (%) 0.38 1.13 1.61 3.48 5.63 4.19 2.84 2.59 2.54 3.96
Returns / Inflation rates over 1 year are annualized.
DRAWDOWN
Inflation Adjusted:
Inflation Adjusted:
1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -7.21 -15.88 -17.87 -20.57 -42.59 -42.59 -61.78
Start to Recovery (# months) details 7 12 40 25 107 107 324
Start (yyyy mm) 2023 05 2022 04 2020 08 2014 07 2011 09 2011 09 1980 10
Start to Bottom (# months) 5 7 27 18 52 52 227
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2023 09 2022 10 2022 10 2015 12 2015 12 2015 12 1999 08
Bottom to End (# months) 2 5 13 7 55 55 97
End (yyyy mm) 2023 11 2023 03 2023 11 2016 07 2020 07 2020 07 2007 09
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)
same as
deepest

same as
deepest

same as
deepest
-17.87
same as
deepest

same as
deepest

same as
deepest
Start to Recovery (# months) details 40
Start (yyyy mm) 2023 05 2022 04 2020 08 2020 08 2011 09 2011 09 1980 10
Start to Bottom (# months) 5 7 27 27 52 52 227
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2023 09 2022 10 2022 10 2022 10 2015 12 2015 12 1999 08
Bottom to End (# months) 2 5 13 13 55 55 97
End (yyyy mm) 2023 11 2023 03 2023 11 2023 11 2020 07 2020 07 2007 09
Longest negative period (# months) details 6 28 39 61 145 145 329
Period Start (yyyy mm) 2023 04 2021 06 2020 08 2014 04 2011 09 2011 09 1980 02
Period End (yyyy mm) 2023 09 2023 09 2023 10 2019 04 2023 09 2023 09 2007 06
Annualized Return (%) -12.33 -1.52 -0.11 -0.24 -0.15 -0.15 -0.08
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -8.50 -23.00 -28.75 -28.75 -45.41 -45.41 -82.52
Start to Recovery (# months) details 7 34* 44* 44* 151* 151* 530*
Start (yyyy mm) 2023 05 2021 06 2020 08 2020 08 2011 09 2011 09 1980 02
Start to Bottom (# months) 5 17 27 27 52 52 254
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2023 09 2022 10 2022 10 2022 10 2015 12 2015 12 2001 03
Bottom to End (# months) 2 17 17 17 99 99 276
End (yyyy mm) 2023 11 - - - - - -
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)
same as
deepest

same as
deepest

same as
deepest
-20.75
same as
deepest

same as
deepest

same as
deepest
Start to Recovery (# months) details 62
Start (yyyy mm) 2023 05 2021 06 2020 08 2014 07 2011 09 2011 09 1980 02
Start to Bottom (# months) 5 17 27 18 52 52 254
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2023 09 2022 10 2022 10 2015 12 2015 12 2015 12 2001 03
Bottom to End (# months) 2 17 17 44 99 99 276
End (yyyy mm) 2023 11 - - 2019 08 - - -
Longest negative period (# months) details 10 34 46 103 158 158 530
Period Start (yyyy mm) 2023 05 2021 05 2020 05 2014 04 2011 01 2011 01 1980 01
Period End (yyyy mm) 2024 02 2024 02 2024 02 2022 10 2024 02 2024 02 2024 02
Annualized Return (%) -0.18 -0.58 -0.32 -0.16 -0.11 -0.11 -0.18
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
RISK INDICATORS
1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
Standard Deviation (%) 12.83 14.12 14.71 14.14 16.75 15.49 19.68
Sharpe Ratio 0.56 0.45 0.63 0.29 0.41 0.22 0.19
Sortino Ratio 0.92 0.70 0.96 0.45 0.60 0.33 0.29
Ulcer Index 2.44 5.90 6.90 8.20 19.28 20.29 34.53
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 0.97 0.63 0.76 0.38 0.49 0.37 0.39
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 1.72 0.56 0.62 0.26 0.19 0.14 0.12
% Positive Months details 58% 50% 51% 48% 52% 50% 51%
Positive Months 7 18 31 58 125 182 324
Negative Months 5 18 29 62 115 178 303
LONG TERM RETURNS
Inflation Adjusted:
Inflation Adjusted:
1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
Best 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized 5.38 12.43 20.53 24.75
Worst 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized -0.91 -0.91 -5.99
Best 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized 2.47 9.90 17.65 17.65
Worst 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized -3.34 -3.34 -10.17
ROLLING PERIODS
Inflation Adjusted:
Inflation Adjusted:
1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
Over the latest 30Y
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 53.69 32.82 23.38 20.53 10.02 5.75
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -28.26 -14.90 -8.25 -0.91 4.94
% Positive Periods 61% 67% 70% 97% 100% 100%
SWR - Safe Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized 82.62 24.22 13.92 6.96 4.83 3.90
PWR - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized - - - - 2.13 2.35
WR calculated based on initial capital | Monthly withdrawals adjusted for inflation | Credits: BestRetirementPortfolio.com
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 47.82 30.88 21.00 17.65 7.83 3.13
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -29.32 -15.71 -10.50 -3.34 2.68
% Positive Periods 54% 58% 66% 81% 100% 100%
SWR - Safe Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized 82.62 24.22 13.92 6.96 4.83 3.90
PWR - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized - - - - 2.13 2.35
WR calculated based on initial capital | Monthly withdrawals adjusted for inflation | Credits: BestRetirementPortfolio.com
Over all the available data source (Jan 1972 - Mar 2024)
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 179.42 70.26 36.39 24.75 11.03 6.35
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -37.71 -15.32 -14.69 -5.99 -4.36 1.60
% Positive Periods 59% 63% 67% 73% 86% 100%
SWR - Safe Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized 72.10 19.10 10.00 4.59 1.73 1.06
PWR - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized - - - - - -
WR calculated based on initial capital | Monthly withdrawals adjusted for inflation | Credits: BestRetirementPortfolio.com
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 145.39 54.87 25.16 17.65 7.83 3.25
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -42.05 -20.23 -19.61 -10.17 -7.77 -1.81
% Positive Periods 52% 49% 52% 53% 60% 80%
SWR - Safe Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized 72.10 19.10 10.00 4.59 1.73 1.06
PWR - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (%) - 100% Success - Annualized - - - - - -
WR calculated based on initial capital | Monthly withdrawals adjusted for inflation | Credits: BestRetirementPortfolio.com
Terms and Definitions
  • Annualized Portfolio Return: it's the annualized geometric mean return of the portfolio.
  • Deepest/Longest Drawdown: a drawdown refers to the decline in value from a relative peak value to a relative trough. The deepest (or maximum) drawdown is the maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough of a portfolio before a new peak is attained. The longest drawdown is the period observed from a peak to the subsequent peak with the greatest duration.
  • Longest negative period: it's the maximum period for which an overall negative return has been observed.
  • Standard Deviation: it's a measure of the dispersion of returns around the mean.
  • Sharpe Ratio: it's a measure of risk-adjusted performance of the portfolio. It's calculated by dividing the excess return of the portfolio over the risk-free rate by the portfolio standard deviation. The risk-free rate here considered is the 1-3 Mth T-Bill return.
  • Sortino Ratio: another measure of risk-adjusted performance of the portfolio. It's a modification of the Sharpe Ratio (same formula but the denominator is the portfolio downside standard deviation).
  • Ulcer Index: it's a measure of downside risk that quantifies the depth and duration of drawdowns in an investment portfolio.
  • Best/Worst 10Y returns: the best and the worst 10-year return over a time frame.
  • Rolling Returns: N-year returns over a time frame, calculated over all the available data source (best, worst, % of positive returns). Each rolling period, longer than the longest negative period, yielded a non-negative minimum return.
  • Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR): it's the percentage of the initial portfolio balance that can be withdrawn at the beginning of each month with inflation adjustment, without the portfolio running out of money in any case (money amount withdrawal).
    For instance: Your initial invested capital is 100.000$; withdrawal rate (annualized) is 4%. This means that, in the first month, you will withdraw 100.000 * 4% * 1/12 = 333.33$. The second month, you’ll withdraw 333.33$ plus the inflation monthly rate. You’ll continue adjusting your withdraw monthly for inflation.
  • Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (PWR): it's the percentage of the initial portfolio balance that can be withdrawn at the beginning of each month with inflation adjustment, preserving the original invested capital, adjusted for inflation too.

Correlations as of Mar 31, 2024

Correlation measures to what degree the returns of the two assets move in relation to each other.

Correlation coefficient is a numerical value between -1 and +1. If one variable goes up by a certain amount, the correlation coefficient indicates which way the other variable moves and by how much.
Asset correlations are calculated based on monthly returns.

Monthly correlations of iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF vs the main Asset Classes, over different timeframes. Columns are sortable (click on table header to sort).

ISHARES GOLD TRUST (IAU) ETF
Monthly correlations as of 31 March 2024
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Correlation vs IAU
Asset Class 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years 30 Years Since
Jan 1992
VTI
US Total Stock Market
0.16
0.24
0.09
0.06
0.06
SPY
US Large Cap
0.19
0.26
0.10
0.05
0.05
IJR
US Small Cap
0.15
0.10
-0.02
0.06
0.06
VNQ
US REITs
0.24
0.29
0.19
0.14
0.13
QQQ
US Technology
0.02
0.26
0.10
0.02
0.02
PFF
Preferred Stocks
-0.06
0.26
0.21
0.04
0.04
EFA
EAFE Stocks
0.27
0.29
0.17
0.18
0.18
VT
World All Countries
0.21
0.28
0.15
0.14
0.14
EEM
Emerging Markets
0.26
0.36
0.31
0.27
0.26
VGK
Europe
0.32
0.30
0.18
0.15
0.14
VPL
Pacific
0.23
0.29
0.17
0.22
0.21
FLLA
Latin America
0.04
0.20
0.27
0.27
0.26
BND
US Total Bond Market
0.28
0.48
0.46
0.31
0.28
TLT
Long Term Treasuries
0.23
0.42
0.42
0.20
0.19
BIL
US Cash
-0.04
0.11
0.12
0.01
0.00
TIP
TIPS
0.37
0.48
0.48
0.35
0.32
LQD
Invest. Grade Bonds
0.27
0.46
0.42
0.26
0.25
HYG
High Yield Bonds
0.21
0.32
0.28
0.15
0.15
CWB
US Convertible Bonds
0.05
0.21
0.15
0.12
0.12
BNDX
International Bonds
0.38
0.43
0.36
0.24
0.23
EMB
Emerg. Market Bonds
0.34
0.44
0.40
0.31
0.30
GLD
Gold
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
DBC
Commodities
0.14
0.05
0.12
0.30
0.29

If you want to learn more about historical correlations, you can find out here how the main asset class are correlated to each other.

Drawdowns

A drawdown refers to the decline in value from a relative peak value to a relative trough. A maximum drawdown is the maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough of a portfolio before a new peak is attained.

ISHARES GOLD TRUST (IAU) ETF
Drawdown periods
Drawdown periods - Inflation Adjusted
Data Source: 1 April 1994 - 31 March 2024 (30 Years)
Data Source: 1 January 1972 - 31 March 2024 (~52 years)
Inflation Adjusted:
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Rolling Returns

( more details)

A rolling return is a measure of investment performance that calculates the return of an investment over a set period of time, with the starting date rolling forward. This approach can provide a more accurate representation of the investment's historical performance and helps investors to evaluate the investment's consistency over time.

ISHARES GOLD TRUST (IAU) ETF
Annualized Rolling Returns
Annualized Rolling Returns - Inflation Adjusted
Data Source: 1 April 1994 - 31 March 2024 (30 Years)
Data Source: 1 January 1972 - 31 March 2024 (~52 years)
Inflation Adjusted:

If you need a deeper detail about rolling returns, please refer to the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF: Rolling Returns page.

Seasonality

In which months is it better to invest in iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF?

Both the Average Return and the Gain Frequency (Win %) are useful to get an idea of what happened in the past.
For further information about the seasonality, check the Asset Class Seasonality page.
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Monthly Returns

This section provides a visual/tabular representation of the performance variability in the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF over time. It illustrates the distribution of monthly returns, showcasing the range and frequency of positive and negative returns.

ISHARES GOLD TRUST (IAU) ETF
Monthly Returns Distribution
Data Source: 1 April 1994 - 31 March 2024 (30 Years)
Data Source: 1 January 1972 - 31 March 2024 (~52 years)
182 Positive Months (51%) - 178 Negative Months (49%)
324 Positive Months (52%) - 303 Negative Months (48%)
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(Scroll down to see all data)
Investment Returns, up to December 2005, have been derived using the historical series of equivalent ETFs / Assets.
You can find additional information on extended Data Sources here.

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