Comparing Sprott Gold Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:SGDM) and Global X – Silver Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:SIL) highlights the differences between lower-cost gold mining exposure and a more expensive, silver-focused portfolio with higher recent volatility.
Both funds target the materials sector but focus on different precious metals. While SIL provides a broad look at the silver mining industry, SGDM narrows its scope to gold miners listed in North America. These ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to metal prices through equity in companies that extract them, which can often lead to more pronounced price swings than holding the metals directly.
Snapshot (cost & size)
|
Metric |
SIL |
SGDM |
|---|---|---|
|
Issuer |
Global X |
Sprott |
|
Expense ratio |
0.65% |
0.50% |
|
1-yr return (as of Apr. 28, 2026) |
116.3% |
73.4% |
|
Dividend yield |
1.14% |
1.02% |
|
AUM |
$5.1 billion |
$668.6 million |
The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
The Sprott fund is more affordable for long-term holders, carrying a 0.50% expense ratio compared to the 0.65% charged by the Global X fund. Payouts are similar between the two, as the Global X fund has a 1.10% yield against the 1.00% offered by its counterpart.
Performance & risk comparison
|
Metric |
SIL |
SGDM |
|---|---|---|
|
Max drawdown (5 yr) |
(55.60%) |
(45.00%) |
|
Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return) |
$2,141 |
$2,562 |
What’s inside
Sprott Gold Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:SGDM) focuses entirely on the basic materials sector, holding 39 stocks primarily from the U.S. and Canada. Launched in 2014, it is a non-diversified fund that prioritizes companies with high revenue growth and low debt-to-equity ratios. Its largest positions include Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) at 11.15%, Newmont (NYSE:NEM) at 8.55%, and Barrick Mining (NYSE:B) at 8.40%. It has paid $0.73 per share over the trailing 12 months. This concentration in North American gold producers has resulted in a lower beta than its silver-focused peer.
In contrast, Global X – Silver Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:SIL) is also 100% weighted toward basic materials but focuses exclusively on silver. Launched in 2010, its portfolio of 38 holdings corresponds to the Solactive Global Silver Miners Total Return Index. Its top positions include Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM) at 22.13%, Pan American Silver (NYSE:PAAS) at 12.20%, and Coeur Mining (NYSE:CDE) at 7.95%. The fund has a trailing-12-month dividend of $0.99 per share. Because it tracks silver miners globally, it provides broader geographic diversity but has historically faced more significant drawdowns than the Sprott fund.
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