GLDM vs. SLV: The Precious Metal ETFs That Just Had Historic Annual Returns

• GLDM charges a overmuch little disbursal ratio than SLV but has a importantly little 1-year instrumentality arsenic of Jan. 14, 2026.

• Both ETFs connection the accidental to put successful a hedge against the dollar successful economical uncertainty.

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The iShares Silver Trust (NYSEMKT:SLV) and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (NYSEMKT:GLDM) connection investors nonstop vulnerability to metallic and golden prices, respectively, without the complications of carnal storage. This examination examines however their fees, performance, risk, and operation comparison for investors considering a precious metals allocation.

Beta measures terms volatility comparative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from regular returns.

GLDM appears much affordable successful presumption of fees, with an disbursal ratio of 0.10% compared to SLV’s 0.50%, which could entreaty to cost-conscious investors, particularly those holding positions for extended periods.

GLDM is designed to way the London Bullion Market Association's (LBMA) Silver Price Index, which tracks the spot terms of golden bullion. It has been disposable for 7 years, and its lone idiosyncratic holding is gold, offering easier and much accessible vulnerability to the metallic without the request for carnal storage.

SLV likewise provides investors with a akin experience, arsenic it tracks the LBMA's Silver Price Index, tracking the spot terms of metallic bullion. The ETF has been astir for astir 20 years, and its lone holding is silver.

Investors should beryllium alert that precious metallic ETFs tin grounds abnormal volatility owed to the inherent volatility of the metals they hold. Silver particularly tin beryllium 2-3 times much volatile than golden due to the fact that of its smaller marketplace size.

However, implicit the agelong term, metallic and galore different lower-volume precious metals thin to determination directionally with gold, akin to however galore smaller cryptocurrencies travel Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC). So erstwhile looking lone astatine the wide inclination direction, some ETFs person appeared astir identical implicit caller years.

Now is simply a beardown play for precious metals, arsenic golden and metallic typically execute amended during economical uncertainty. Tariffs and planetary tensions are affecting planetary markets, and golden and metallic tremendously benefited from this inclination successful 2025 and into 2026. SLV skyrocketed astir 141% successful 2025, and is already up 25% YTD arsenic of Jan. 15, 2026. GLDM spiked 62% successful 2025, and is up 6% truthful acold this year.