GDX vs. SLVP

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP).

GDX and SLVP are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GDX is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the NYSE MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index. It was launched on May 16, 2006. SLVP is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI ACWI Select Silver Miners Investable Market Index. It was launched on Jan 31, 2012. Both GDX and SLVP are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

GDX vs. SLVP - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

GDX vs. SLVP - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF	7.00%	154.77%	10.63%	9.98%	-9.01%	-9.52%	23.66%	39.84%	-8.77%	11.99%
SLVP iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF	3.47%	202.84%	14.47%	-2.31%	-18.06%	-23.53%	56.45%	37.71%	-22.10%	4.53%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GDX achieves a 7.00% return, which is significantly higher than SLVP's 3.47% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with GDX having a 17.53% annualized return and SLVP not far behind at 17.38%.

GDX

• 1D: 6.97%
• 1M: -20.78%
• YTD: 7.00%
• 6M: 20.99%
• 1Y: 101.08%
• 3Y*: 43.23%
• 5Y*: 23.96%
• 10Y*: 17.53%

SLVP

• 1D: 7.52%
• 1M: -25.36%
• YTD: 3.47%
• 6M: 31.80%
• 1Y: 141.24%
• 3Y*: 47.57%
• 5Y*: 19.59%
• 10Y*: 17.38%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GDX vs. SLVP - Expense Ratio Comparison

GDX has a 0.51% expense ratio, which is higher than SLVP's 0.39% expense ratio.

GDX

VanEck Gold Miners ETF

SLVP

iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF

Return for Risk

GDX vs. SLVP — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

GDX

GDX Risk / Return Rank: 92
GDX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
GDX Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
GDX Omega Ratio Rank: 89
GDX Calmar Ratio Rank: 93
GDX Martin Ratio Rank: 92

SLVP

SLVP Risk / Return Rank: 94
SLVP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
SLVP Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
SLVP Omega Ratio Rank: 92
SLVP Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
SLVP Martin Ratio Rank: 94

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

GDX vs. SLVP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	GDX	SLVP	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.21	2.64	-0.43
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.45	2.75	-0.30
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.36	1.39	-0.03
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.34	4.21	-0.87
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	12.07	14.23	-2.16
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GDX vs. SLVP - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GDX Sharpe Ratio is 2.21, which is comparable to the SLVP Sharpe Ratio of 2.64. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GDX and SLVP, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GDX	SLVP	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.21	2.64	-0.43
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.67	0.46	+0.21
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.47	0.41	+0.06
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.14	0.09	+0.04

Correlation

The correlation between GDX and SLVP is 0.87, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

GDX vs. SLVP - Dividend Comparison

GDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.69%, less than SLVP's 1.72% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF	0.69%	0.74%	1.19%	1.61%	1.66%	1.67%	0.53%	0.67%	0.50%	0.76%	0.26%	0.85%
SLVP iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF	1.72%	1.78%	1.05%	0.88%	0.63%	1.63%	2.39%	2.03%	1.28%	0.85%	2.32%	0.72%

Drawdowns

GDX vs. SLVP - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GDX drawdown since its inception was -80.34%, roughly equal to the maximum SLVP drawdown of -80.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GDX and SLVP.

Drawdown Indicators

	GDX	SLVP	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-80.34%	-80.47%	+0.13%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-30.84%	-33.57%	+2.73%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-46.51%	-55.36%	+8.85%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-49.79%	-62.03%	+12.24%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-20.78%	-25.36%	+4.58%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-40.61%	-47.13%	+6.52%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.52%	9.93%	-1.41%

Volatility

GDX vs. SLVP - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is 18.51%, while iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP) has a volatility of 19.67%. This indicates that GDX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SLVP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	GDX	SLVP	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	18.51%	19.67%	-1.16%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	38.19%	44.96%	-6.77%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	46.00%	53.91%	-7.91%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	35.73%	42.41%	-6.68%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	37.44%	42.44%	-5.00%