Looking to Invest in Gold or Silver? GLD and SLV Make It Simple to Buy Through ETFs

Core Insights - The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) are two leading precious metal ETFs that differ in cost, risk, and structure, impacting portfolio decision-making [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - SLV has an expense ratio of 0.50%, while GLD has a slightly lower expense ratio of 0.40% [3] - As of December 5, 2025, SLV's one-year return is 83.4%, compared to GLD's 57.9% [3] - SLV has a total assets under management (AUM) of $29.8 billion, whereas GLD has a significantly larger AUM of $141.8 billion [3] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, SLV has a maximum drawdown of -39.33%, while GLD's maximum drawdown is -22.00% [4] - An investment of $1,000 in SLV would grow to $2,352 over five years, compared to $2,241 for GLD [4] Underlying Assets - GLD exclusively holds physical gold bullion, providing direct exposure to gold prices without any stocks or bonds [5] - SLV offers direct exposure to silver, tracking the spot price of silver, and is classified under real estate for reporting purposes [6] Investment Strategy - Both SLV and GLD provide direct exposure to precious metals, differentiating them from other ETFs that invest in mining companies [7] - Investing in these ETFs allows for commodity investment without the need for physical ownership of the metals [8]