GDX vs SLVP

GDXBVanEck Gold Miners ETF

SLVPBiShares MSCI Global Silver and Metals Miners ETF

In short

GDX The original gold miner ETF, running since 2006. Roughly 60 mining companies in one ticker, for people who want equity exposure to gold's economics rather than a bar in a vault.

SLVP About 40 global silver and metals miners in one ticker, priced below the typical precious-metals miner fund. Running since 2012, and read the 'metals miners' part of the name: the index reaches past pure silver plays.

Stated mandate

GDX GDX seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index, which is designed to represent companies involved in gold mining.

SLVP The fund is designed to follow an index of worldwide companies whose principal business is silver exploration or metals mining.

Why people hold it

• GDX Launched in 2006, this is the elder statesman of gold mining funds: a multi-billion-dollar portfolio that is very actively traded, which usually means easy entries and exits.
• Owns the diggers, not the metal. It tracks the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index, roughly 60 companies whose profits swing on the gap between gold prices and mining costs.
• At a 0.51% expense ratio it sits right at the typical price for a precious-metals miner fund, and it grades in the top quartile of its 18-fund peer group.

• SLVP 0.39% a year undercuts the 0.52% median for precious-metals miner funds, and matches the fee on the iShares gold-miner sibling, RING.
• Global mandate, not a US-listing screen: the MSCI ACWI Select Silver Miners IMI covers worldwide companies whose principal business is silver exploration or metals mining.
• Trading since 2012, one of the longer-running silver miner funds on the shelf, and it stands among the stronger implementations in its precious-metals mining peer group.

Worth knowing

• GDX Cheaper shelf-mates exist. RING covers global gold miners at 0.39%, so you are paying a bit extra here, largely for scale and trading depth.
• Miner stocks are not bullion. They carry operating costs, debt, labor and country risk on top of the gold price, so moves tend to be sharper in both directions.
• Distributions come annually or semiannually, so this is an equity growth vehicle rather than a steady income line.

• SLVP Roughly 40 stocks, so individual miners carry real weight and the whole basket keys off one metal's fortunes.
• "And Metals Miners" is doing work in the name: the mandate covers silver exploration or metals mining, so diversified miners can sit beside pure silver plays.
• Not the cheapest silver miner ticket: AGMI lists at 0.35%, though it lacks SLVP's record back to 2012.

Full GDX profile⁠

Full SLVP profile⁠