IYF vs. SLV
IYF (iShares U.S. Financials ETF) and SLV (iShares Silver Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - IYF is a Financials Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Financials Index, while SLV is a Silver fund tracking the LBMA Silver Price. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IYF returned 13.90%/yr vs 12.68%/yr for SLV. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IYF charges 0.42%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for SLV.
Performance
IYF vs. SLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IYF achieves a 0.92% return, which is significantly higher than SLV's -13.49% return. Over the past 10 years, IYF has outperformed SLV with an annualized return of 13.90%, while SLV has yielded a comparatively lower 12.68% annualized return.
IYF
- 1D
- 0.41%
- 1M
- 4.59%
- YTD
- 0.92%
- 6M
- -0.33%
- 1Y
- 11.89%
- 3Y*
- 23.15%
- 5Y*
- 11.53%
- 10Y*
- 13.90%
SLV
- 1D
- -5.40%
- 1M
- -18.48%
- YTD
- -13.49%
- 6M
- -14.05%
- 1Y
- 69.08%
- 3Y*
- 39.38%
- 5Y*
- 18.31%
- 10Y*
- 12.68%
IYF vs. SLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYF iShares U.S. Financials ETF | 0.92% | 18.25% | 31.30% | 15.32% | -11.33% | 31.60% | -1.00% | 31.86% | -9.39% | 19.58% |
SLV iShares Silver Trust | -13.49% | 144.66% | 20.89% | -1.09% | 2.37% | -12.45% | 47.30% | 14.88% | -9.19% | 5.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between IYF and SLV is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 28, 2006 | 0.13 |
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Return for Risk
IYF vs. SLV — Risk / Return Rank
IYF
SLV
IYF vs. SLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IYF | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.25 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.86 | 1.47 | -0.61 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.32 | 3.16 | -0.85 |
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Drawdowns
IYF vs. SLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IYF drawdown since its inception was -79.09%, roughly equal to the maximum SLV drawdown of -76.28%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYF and SLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IYF | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -79.09% | -76.28% | -2.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.88% | -47.23% | +33.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.60% | -47.23% | +30.63% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.06% | -47.23% | +22.17% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.57% | -47.23% | +4.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.17% | -47.23% | +45.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.58% | -44.65% | +27.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.14% | 21.91% | -16.77% |
Volatility
IYF vs. SLV - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF) is 4.13%, while iShares Silver Trust (SLV) has a volatility of 14.34%. This indicates that IYF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IYF | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.13% | 14.34% | -10.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.19% | 59.27% | -48.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.53% | 60.33% | -45.80% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.00% | 36.59% | -17.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.84% | 32.09% | -11.25% |
IYF vs. SLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
IYF has a 0.42% expense ratio, which is lower than SLV's 0.50% expense ratio.
Dividends
IYF vs. SLV - Dividend Comparison
IYF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.48%, while SLV has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYF iShares U.S. Financials ETF | 1.48% | 1.32% | 1.29% | 1.67% | 1.86% | 1.27% | 1.72% | 1.64% | 1.90% | 1.46% | 1.67% | 1.66% |
SLV iShares Silver Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IYF and SLV have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SLV has higher volatility (14.34%) compared to IYF (4.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYF dropped -79.09% vs SLV's -76.28%.
On 10-year performance, IYF leads with 13.90% vs 12.68% for SLV. On fees, IYF is cheaper at 0.42% per year. On volatility, IYF has been the lower-risk option at 4.13%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IYF has performed better with a 13.90% return vs 12.68%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IYF is cheaper with a 0.42% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for SLV.
IYF has the higher dividend yield at 1.48%, compared with 0.00% for SLV.
IYF is categorized as Financials Equities, while SLV is Silver. IYF tracks Dow Jones U.S. Financials Index, while SLV tracks LBMA Silver Price. Their fees differ too: 0.42% for IYF and 0.50% for SLV.
SLV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.15 vs 0.82), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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