abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) Performance
SGOL total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −7.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −3.0% total return
- 5 years
- +17.2% a year
- 10 years
- +11.9% a year
- Since first price
- +8.2% a year since 2009
SGOL trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | SGOL total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −6.6% | −6.6% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −1.3% | −1.3% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −14.9% | −14.9% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −7.3% | −7.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −3.0% | −3.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +101.6%+26.3%/yr | +101.6% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +121.1%+17.2%/yr | +121.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +208.9%+11.9%/yr | +208.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +134.0%+5.8%/yr | +134.0% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionSep 9, 2009 | +284.6%+8.2%/yr | +284.6% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: SGOL vs SPY
From Sep 9, 2009: SGOL grew to $38,462, SPY to $99,416.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
SGOL returns by calendar year
10 of 16 full years positive. Best 2025 (+64.0%), worst 2013 (−28.3%). 2026 is year to date.
SGOL annual returns table
| Year | SGOL | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −7.3% | −26.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +64.0% | −10.1% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +26.9% | −8.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +13.0% | −11.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −0.5% | −20.9% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −3.9% | −13.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +25.0% | −14.0% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +18.2% | −6.5% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −1.9% | −13.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +12.9% | −8.0% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +8.0% | −17.7% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −10.7% | −19.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −2.1% | −17.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | −28.3% | −29.9% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +6.6% | −13.8% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +9.6% | −18.6% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +29.2% | −7.8% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
SGOL largest drawdowns
Now 25.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2011 | −45.5% | Dec 17, 2015 | Jul 28, 2020 | 4.3 years | 8.9 years |
| Jan 29, 2026 | −26.3% | Jul 16, 2026 | not yet | 6 months | 9 months so far |
| Aug 6, 2020 | −21.6% | Sep 26, 2022 | Dec 27, 2023 | 2.1 years | 3.4 years |
| Dec 2, 2009 | −12.7% | Feb 8, 2010 | May 11, 2010 | 2 months | 5 months |
| Oct 20, 2025 | −10.1% | Nov 4, 2025 | Dec 22, 2025 | 15 days | 2 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
SGOL risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +30.8% | +18.6% | +11.9% | +8.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 17.2% | 15.5% | 16.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.30 | 0.88 | 0.66 | 0.49 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.28 | 1.55 | 1.15 | 0.80 |
| Best month | +12.6% | +12.6% | +12.6% | +12.8% |
| Worst month | −11.7% | −11.7% | −11.7% | −11.7% |
| Best 12 months | +83.9% | +83.9% | +83.9% | +83.9% |
| Worst 12 months | +7.5% | −8.6% | −10.2% | −28.3% |
| Positive months | 69% | 58% | 52% | 51% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | -0.02 | 0.18 | 0.14 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | -0.01 | 0.16 | 0.14 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
SGOL rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 194 | −28.3% | +7.0% | +83.9% | 63% |
| 3-year (a year) | 170 | −15.0% | +4.4% | +42.0% | 72% |
| 5-year (a year) | 146 | −8.0% | +6.0% | +24.7% | 67% |
| 10-year (a year) | 86 | −1.0% | +3.4% | +15.5% | 94% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
SGOL performance overview
abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) returned −3.0% over the past year and +11.9% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +8.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $38,462. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −45.5%, from Aug 22, 2011 to Dec 17, 2015, and it took 4.6 years to get back to the old high. SGOL finished 10 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+64.0%) and the worst 2013 (−28.3%). Volatility has been 16.8% a year.
Related: SGOL chart. See the SGOL overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
SGOL performance FAQ
What is the SGOL return over the past year?
SGOL returned −3.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 3.0%.
What is the average annual return of SGOL?
SGOL has returned +17.2% a year over 5 years, +11.9% a year over 10 years, +8.2% a year since September 9, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in SGOL be worth?
$10,000 invested in SGOL at its first recorded close on September 9, 2009 would be worth about $38,462 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for SGOL?
The worst calendar year was 2013, with a total return of −28.3%. The best was 2025 at +64.0%.
What is the biggest drawdown of SGOL?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −45.5% between August 22, 2011 and December 17, 2015. It recovered to the old high on July 28, 2020, 4.6 years after the bottom.
How volatile is SGOL?
Over the past 3 years SGOL had an annualized volatility of 18.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.30 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).