Average Daily Volume
14.1K
Fund Overview
The Global X Gold Explorers ETF (GOEX) provides investors with targeted exposure to gold exploration companies. These are typically smaller-cap companies engaged in the early stages of gold discovery and resource development, offering a higher-risk, higher-reward proposition compared to established gold miners. GOEX seeks to track the Solactive Global Gold Explorers & Developers Total Return Index, which includes companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from gold exploration or have at least 50% of their assets in gold exploration projects. The fund offers a unique way to gain exposure to potential future gold production before major discoveries are fully developed or acquired by larger mining firms.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
Gold Miners
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
No
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- -0.28 %
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
N/A
- Dividend Date
-
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Why Invest in the GOEX ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Offers leveraged exposure to gold prices through exploration companies, which can outperform during gold bull markets.
- Provides access to early-stage gold discoveries before they are acquired by larger miners at premiums.
- Diversifies a gold allocation by targeting a different segment of the gold mining ecosystem.
- May benefit from increased M&A activity as major miners seek to replenish reserves.
- Lower correlation to physical gold than producer ETFs, offering different return drivers.
Potential Risks
- Higher volatility than physical gold or established miner ETFs due to exploration risks.
- Many holdings are pre-revenue, making them sensitive to financing conditions.
- Geopolitical risks as explorers often operate in less stable jurisdictions.
- Dilution risk from frequent equity offerings to fund exploration programs.
- Underperformance risk during gold price stagnation when funding dries up.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+28.1%
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+11.7%
|
-1.2%
|
+17.0%
|
+7.3%
|
+10.4%
|
+1.3%
|
-5.1%
|
+26.8%
|
+23.9%
|
-2.2%
|
+17.0%
|
+5.8%
|
| 2024 |
-8.8%
|
-5.9%
|
+21.6%
|
+1.0%
|
+11.0%
|
-7.2%
|
+9.7%
|
+4.3%
|
+6.2%
|
+3.4%
|
-6.0%
|
-6.8%
|
| 2023 |
+11.6%
|
-11.9%
|
+13.9%
|
-0.5%
|
-8.9%
|
-4.2%
|
+7.0%
|
-4.1%
|
-11.3%
|
+1.9%
|
+14.1%
|
-0.9%
|
| 2022 |
-7.9%
|
+11.5%
|
+8.4%
|
-6.9%
|
-8.3%
|
-19.5%
|
+5.8%
|
-11.0%
|
-1.5%
|
-1.8%
|
+20.9%
|
+1.5%
|
| 2021 |
-9.1%
|
-6.8%
|
-1.8%
|
+6.5%
|
+15.0%
|
-13.0%
|
-0.1%
|
-4.7%
|
-9.6%
|
+13.1%
|
-1.5%
|
+0.8%
|
| 2020 |
-0.9%
|
-14.6%
|
-18.9%
|
+42.9%
|
+14.1%
|
+6.5%
|
+19.4%
|
+0.4%
|
-8.1%
|
-4.7%
|
-3.7%
|
+11.9%
|
| 2019 |
+11.5%
|
-0.9%
|
-3.6%
|
-5.8%
|
-0.3%
|
+18.6%
|
+8.1%
|
+6.5%
|
-10.7%
|
+4.7%
|
-4.1%
|
+11.5%
|
| 2018 |
-2.3%
|
-5.6%
|
+0.2%
|
+4.9%
|
+1.4%
|
-3.2%
|
-2.8%
|
-11.8%
|
-2.1%
|
-0.8%
|
-3.1%
|
+10.9%
|
| 2017 |
+16.9%
|
-3.3%
|
+2.1%
|
-7.3%
|
-3.1%
|
+5.8%
|
-0.1%
|
+6.4%
|
-4.7%
|
-6.4%
|
-2.0%
|
+10.6%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
LUGDF
|
LUNDIN GOLD INC |
4.2 % |
|
HL
|
HECLA MINING CO |
3.9 % |
|
DPMLF
|
DUNDEE PRECIOUS METALS INC |
3.0 % |
|
TORXF
|
TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC |
3.0 % |
|
CDE
|
COEUR MINING INC |
2.9 % |
|
SSRM
|
SSR MINING INC |
2.6 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 49 total holdings.
Related ETFs: GOEX vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
GOEX tracks the Solactive Global Gold Explorers & Developers Total Return Index, which uses a modified market-cap weighting approach. The index includes companies with market capitalizations above $150 million that meet strict revenue or asset-based gold exposure requirements. Holdings are rebalanced quarterly, with individual positions capped at 8% to maintain diversification. Unlike gold miner ETFs that focus on producers, GOEX specifically targets firms in the exploration and pre-production phases, creating a portfolio with different risk/return characteristics than traditional gold equity funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GOEX hold physical gold?
No, GOEX invests in gold exploration companies, not physical bullion. Its performance depends on the success and valuation of these firms, not direct gold prices.
How often does GOEX rebalance its holdings?
The fund rebalances quarterly to match its underlying index composition, with individual positions capped at 8% of the portfolio.
What's the difference between GOEX and traditional gold miner ETFs?
GOEX focuses exclusively on exploration-stage companies without operating mines, making it more speculative than ETFs holding revenue-generating gold producers.
Is GOEX suitable for conservative investors?
No, GOEX is a high-risk fund appropriate only for investors comfortable with the volatility and potential total loss inherent in exploration-stage investments.
What percentage of GOEX holdings are in Canada and Australia?
As of the latest data, approximately 60-70% of the portfolio is typically allocated to Canadian and Australian explorers, reflecting these countries' dominant positions in global gold exploration.
Industry Overview
The gold exploration sector represents the most speculative segment of precious metals investing. Unlike physical gold ETFs or established miner funds, GOEX provides exposure to companies searching for new gold deposits. These explorers typically have no operating mines or steady cash flows, making them highly sensitive to gold price movements and financing availability. The sector tends to outperform during strong gold markets when discovery premiums rise, but underperform during downturns as funding evaporates. GOEX offers a tactical tool for investors bullish on both gold prices and increased M&A activity in the space.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to GDX (VanEck Gold Miners ETF), GOEX offers earlier-stage exposure with greater upside potential but higher volatility. Versus GDXJ (Junior Gold Miners ETF), GOEX is even more speculative as it excludes producing miners entirely. RING (iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF) focuses on larger, revenue-generating companies, while GOAU (U.S. Global GO Gold and Precious Metal Miners ETF) includes both explorers and producers with an active management approach. GOEX stands out for its pure-play exploration focus.
Issuer Overview
GOEX is managed by Global X ETFs, a New York-based provider known for thematic and commodity-focused ETFs. Global X operates as a subsidiary of Mirae Asset Financial Group and has particular expertise in mining sector ETFs, including other gold and metals-focused funds. The firm employs passive management strategies tracking proprietary indices across its product line.
Conclusion
GOEX serves a specialized role for investors seeking amplified exposure to gold price movements through exploration companies. While unsuitable as a core holding, it can complement physical gold or established miner ETFs in a satellite allocation. The fund's performance will largely depend on gold price trends, exploration success rates, and financing availability in the junior mining sector. Investors should be prepared for significant volatility and understand the unique risks of pre-production mining investments.
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