SLV vs. IAU: Silver Trust's Bigger 12-Month Gain Comes With Higher Fees and Volatility
The analysis contrasts SLV's strong recent performance with IAU's lower fees plus larger asset base.
Overview
- Both funds provide direct exposure to their metals by holding physical bullion rather than mining stocks.
- SLV carries a 0.50% expense ratio, while IAU charges 0.25%, making IAU the lower-cost option.
- Over the trailing 12 months to Feb. 6, 2026, SLV returned 138.9% versus 73.0% for IAU.
- Five-year beta figures show lower volatility for IAU at 0.09 compared with 0.38 for SLV.
- Assets under management total about $47.3 billion for SLV and $78.0 billion for IAU, and neither fund pays a dividend.