Overview
- Yahoo Finance’s comparison shows SIL returned 167.2% over the past year versus 136.8% for GDX as of Feb. 6, 2026, with higher fees for SIL (0.65%) than GDX (0.51%) and a deeper five‑year max drawdown for SIL (−55.63% vs. −46.52%).
- GDX tracks gold miners across roughly 55 holdings with $30.5 billion in assets and an almost 20‑year record, providing broader diversification and lower cost.
- SIL concentrates on 39 silver miners with heavier top weights—Wheaton Precious Metals at 21.8%, Pan American Silver at 11.67%, and Coeur Mining at 7.88%—which raises concentration risk and volatility.
- The reports note miner ETFs offer leveraged exposure to metal trends rather than direct spot pricing, whereas bullion funds like GLD move roughly one‑for‑one with their underlying metal.
- A separate analysis highlights SLV after a correction, citing silver’s use in AI infrastructure, electronics, medical devices, and 5G as potential demand drivers.