AAAU & SLV: Two Precious Metal ETFs That Can Add Some Shine to Your Portfolio

Core Insights - The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) provide direct exposure to silver and gold respectively, with significant returns over the past year [2][3] Cost & Size Comparison - SLV has an expense ratio of 0.50% and an AUM of $44.77 billion, while AAAU has a lower expense ratio of 0.18% and an AUM of $3.13 billion [3] - The 1-year return for SLV is 137.63%, significantly higher than AAAU's 73.1% [3] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, SLV has a max drawdown of 37.65%, compared to AAAU's 20.94% [4] - The growth of $1,000 invested over five years is $2,764 for SLV and $2,681 for AAAU [4] Market Context - The precious metals market has seen a surge in 2025, with gold and silver prices benefiting from geopolitical and economic tensions [6] - Since the start of 2025, gold prices have nearly doubled, while silver prices have surged by 170% [7] Volatility Considerations - Precious metals are known for their volatility, with silver being twice as volatile as gold, necessitating caution for investors [8] - An example of this volatility is a 27% drop in silver's price in one day on January 30 [8] Investment Opportunities - Both AAAU and SLV are considered effective ways for investors to gain exposure to the precious metals market, provided they are aware of the associated volatility [9]