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iShares Strategic Metals ETF (ISTM) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jun 24, 2026

The iShares Strategic Metals ETF seeks to track a commodities futures index that provides strategic exposure to metals considered essential to structural themes such as AI infrastructure, manufacturing, energy production and distribution, and national security. The fund was formerly the iShares Transition-Enabling Metals ETF before its name, ticker, index, and objective change to ISTM.

iShares Strategic Metals ETF (ISTM) belongs to the Rare Earth & Strategic Metals category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with ISTM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to ISTM

ISTM charges 0.49% annually. No ETFs in the Rare Earth & Strategic Metals category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.55%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
WDIG
WisdomTree Efficient Rare Earth Plus Strategic Met...0.55%8.02MMay 2026ISTM vs WDIG
REMX
VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF0.59%2.96BOct 2010ISTM vs REMX
EART
Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF0.59%45.00MJan 2022ISTM vs EART
FMTL
First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF0.65%28.85MNov 2025ISTM vs FMTL
REXC
Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China ETF0.65%38.36MApr 2026ISTM vs REXC

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to ISTM

ISTM has 31.35% 1-year volatility. No ETFs in the Rare Earth & Strategic Metals category have lower 1-year volatility; the lowest-volatility alternatives shown here go as low as 36.55%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
MINY
YieldMax Strategic Metals & Mining Portfolio Optio...36.55%6.17MFeb 2026ISTM vs MINY
EART
Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF39.51%45.00MJan 2022ISTM vs EART
FMTL
First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF40.43%28.85MNov 2025ISTM vs FMTL
REMX
VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF49.97%2.96BOct 2010ISTM vs REMX
REXC
Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China ETF53.79%38.36MApr 2026ISTM vs REXC

Other ETFs from iShares

The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, IVV and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $838B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
SGOV
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETFUltrashort Bond
100
1.71%
95.28BMay 2020ISTM vs SGOV
IBIT
iShares Bitcoin Trust ETFCryptocurrency
2
-28.88%
48.04BJan 2024ISTM vs IBIT
IVV
iShares Core S&P 500 ETFS&P 500
59
8.20%
837.93BMay 2000ISTM vs IVV
SOXX
iShares Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
95
100.58%
46.67BJul 2001ISTM vs SOXX
TLT
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETFGovernment Bonds, Long-Term Bond
14
0.77%
41.34BJul 2002ISTM vs TLT
DGRO
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETFLarge Cap Growth Equities, Dividend
75
9.19%
41.89BJun 2014ISTM vs DGRO
SLV
iShares Silver TrustSilver, Precious Metals
31
-13.49%
32.53BApr 2006ISTM vs SLV
IAU
iShares Gold TrustGold, Precious Metals
22
-4.73%
64.29BJan 2005ISTM vs IAU
IWM
iShares Russell 2000 ETFSmall Cap Blend Equities
67
20.47%
81.35BMay 2000ISTM vs IWM
ACWI
iShares MSCI ACWI ETFGlobal Equities
58
9.86%
32.95BMar 2008ISTM vs ACWI

Often Compared With ISTM

Investors most often compare ISTM with DBB, CPER, SCOP. These 7 comparison targets span 4 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
DBB
Invesco DB Base Metals FundMetals
54
6.67%
378.77MJan 2007ISTM vs DBB
CPER
United States Copper Index FundCopper, Metals
20
6.75%
343.15MNov 2011ISTM vs CPER
SCOP
Sprott Physical Copper TrustCopper, Metals———Jun 2024ISTM vs SCOP
BNQV.DE
BNPP RICI Enhanced Industriemetalle (TR) ETCMetals
71
12.44%
—Nov 2016ISTM vs BNQV.DE
B4NB.DE
BNPP RICI Enhanced Kupfer (TR) ETC USDMetals
71
10.51%
—May 2017ISTM vs B4NB.DE
B4NQ.DE
BNPP Kupfer (TR) ETCMetals
78
12.44%
—May 2017ISTM vs B4NQ.DE
PICK
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETFMetals, Natural Resources, Materials
71
17.36%
2.31BJan 2012ISTM vs PICK

Compare ISTM with Any Fund or Stock

Compare ISTM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

 

Diversifiers

Pair ISTM with funds that move differently

iShares Strategic Metals ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to ISTM.

Explore ISTM Diversifiers