Silver ETFs: SLV Is a Bigger Fund But SIVR Is More Affordable
The Motley Fool·2025-11-09 15:27

Core Insights - The abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) are two of the largest physical silver ETFs, with SIVR being cheaper in terms of expense ratio, which could impact long-term returns [1][2][10] Cost and Size Comparison - SIVR has an expense ratio of 0.30%, while SLV has a higher expense ratio of 0.50% [3][4] - As of October 28, 2025, SIVR has a one-year return of 39.4% compared to SLV's 39.0% [3] - SIVR has assets under management (AUM) of $3 billion, significantly lower than SLV's AUM of $22.7 billion [3][6] Performance and Risk Metrics - The maximum drawdown over five years for SIVR is -38.61%, while SLV's is slightly worse at -38.79% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in SIVR would grow to $1,988 over five years, compared to $1,967 for SLV [5] Investment Characteristics - Both ETFs are designed to track silver prices and do not pay dividends [7] - SIVR offers a straightforward approach to physical silver exposure, similar to SLV, but with lower costs [7][10] Market Context - Silver is used extensively in industrial applications, with nearly 60% of global demand coming from sectors like electronics and electricals [8] - Investing in silver can be achieved through various methods, but ETFs like SIVR and SLV provide direct exposure to silver prices [9]