Core Insights - The Global X - Silver Miners ETF (SIL) and the SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) cater to investors interested in precious metals but differ fundamentally in structure and focus [2] Cost & Size Comparison - SIL has an expense ratio of 0.65% and assets under management (AUM) of $5 billion, while GLDM has a lower expense ratio of 0.10% and AUM of $25 billion [3] - SIL offers a one-year return of 186.7% and a dividend yield of 1.18%, whereas GLDM has a one-year return of 69.26% and does not pay a dividend [3][4] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over five years, SIL experienced a maximum drawdown of -56.79%, while GLDM had a maximum drawdown of -21.63% [5] - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $2,094 in SIL and $2,473 in GLDM over the same period [5] Fund Composition - GLDM exclusively holds physical gold, providing 100% exposure to bullion prices, making it suitable for low-cost tracking of gold [6] - SIL consists entirely of silver mining companies, with top holdings including Wheaton Precious Metals, Pan American Silver, and Coeur Mining, which together represent over 40% of its assets [7] Investment Implications - Both SIL and GLDM provide access to the precious metals sector but with different risk and return profiles; GLDM offers stability through physical gold, while SIL exposes investors to the volatility of silver mining operations [9]