Average Daily Volume
23.01M
Fund Overview
The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to track the price performance of silver. It is one of the largest and most liquid silver ETFs, providing investors with a convenient way to gain exposure to silver without the complexities of physical ownership. SLV holds physical silver bullion stored in secure vaults, and each share represents a fractional ownership of the trust's silver holdings. The fund aims to reflect the price of silver, minus the trust's expenses, making it a popular choice for investors looking to hedge against inflation or diversify their portfolios with precious metals.
- Asset Class
-
Commodity
- Industry
-
N/A
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
No
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- N/A
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
N/A
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the SLV ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Provides direct exposure to the price of silver without the need for physical storage.
- Highly liquid, making it easy to buy and sell shares throughout the trading day.
- Offers a cost-effective way to invest in silver compared to purchasing physical bullion.
- Can serve as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation.
- Diversifies a portfolio by adding a non-correlated asset class.
Potential Risks
- Silver prices can be highly volatile, leading to significant price swings.
- Exposure to commodity market risks, including supply-demand imbalances.
- Trust expenses and fees can erode returns over time.
- No income generation (e.g., dividends or interest), as it is a pure price-play on silver.
- Regulatory or custodial risks related to the storage of physical silver.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+17.1%
|
+12.7%
|
-19.8%
|
-2.2%
|
+2.5%
|
-21.7%
|
-2.1%
|
+14.8%
|
-9.3%
|
+0.4%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+8.3%
|
-0.7%
|
+9.5%
|
-4.5%
|
+1.4%
|
+9.4%
|
+1.6%
|
+8.6%
|
+17.1%
|
+3.9%
|
+16.4%
|
+25.8%
|
| 2024 |
-4.0%
|
-0.9%
|
+9.7%
|
+5.7%
|
+15.4%
|
-4.3%
|
-0.7%
|
-0.2%
|
+7.8%
|
+4.9%
|
-6.3%
|
-5.7%
|
| 2023 |
-0.9%
|
-12.0%
|
+15.1%
|
+4.0%
|
-6.0%
|
-3.3%
|
+8.6%
|
-1.3%
|
-9.2%
|
+3.1%
|
+10.2%
|
-5.8%
|
| 2022 |
-3.3%
|
+8.7%
|
+1.1%
|
-8.0%
|
-5.7%
|
-6.0%
|
+0.3%
|
-11.3%
|
+5.5%
|
+0.7%
|
+15.9%
|
+7.8%
|
| 2021 |
+1.7%
|
-1.3%
|
-7.9%
|
+5.8%
|
+7.9%
|
-6.5%
|
-2.4%
|
-6.3%
|
-7.3%
|
+7.7%
|
-4.7%
|
+2.1%
|
| 2020 |
+0.8%
|
-7.7%
|
-16.0%
|
+7.1%
|
+19.2%
|
+2.1%
|
+33.2%
|
+15.8%
|
-17.5%
|
+1.6%
|
-4.3%
|
+16.7%
|
| 2019 |
+3.7%
|
-2.8%
|
-3.1%
|
-1.1%
|
-2.6%
|
+5.0%
|
+6.1%
|
+12.8%
|
-7.2%
|
+6.3%
|
-5.9%
|
+4.8%
|
| 2018 |
+2.3%
|
-5.4%
|
-0.3%
|
-0.2%
|
+0.5%
|
-2.0%
|
-3.6%
|
-6.6%
|
+0.6%
|
-2.3%
|
-0.7%
|
+9.0%
|
| 2017 |
+10.1%
|
+4.4%
|
-0.7%
|
-5.5%
|
+0.6%
|
-4.1%
|
+1.2%
|
+4.7%
|
-5.5%
|
+0.3%
|
-1.8%
|
+3.1%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
No holdings data available.
Related ETFs: SLV vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
SLV aims to track the price of silver by holding physical silver bullion stored in secure vaults. The fund does not engage in active management or derivatives; instead, it provides direct exposure to silver's spot price. Each share represents a fractional ownership of the trust's silver holdings, and the fund is structured to reflect silver's performance minus expenses. The trust regularly adjusts its holdings to match investor inflows and outflows, ensuring alignment with silver's market price. Unlike leveraged or inverse ETFs, SLV does not use complex financial instruments, making it a straightforward investment vehicle for silver exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SLV hold physical silver?
Yes, SLV holds physical silver bullion stored in secure vaults, with each share representing fractional ownership of the trust's silver holdings.
How does SLV differ from silver mining ETFs?
SLV tracks the price of physical silver, while silver mining ETFs (e.g., SIL, SILJ) invest in companies involved in silver extraction, which are subject to equity market risks and operational factors beyond silver prices.
What drives SLV's performance?
SLV's performance is directly tied to the spot price of silver, influenced by industrial demand, inflation expectations, currency movements, and investor sentiment toward precious metals.
Can I redeem SLV shares for physical silver?
No, SLV does not allow individual investors to redeem shares for physical silver. For that feature, consider PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust).
Is SLV a good hedge against inflation?
Yes, silver has historically served as an inflation hedge, though its price can be more volatile than gold due to industrial demand fluctuations.
Industry Overview
Investing in silver through ETFs like SLV offers exposure to a precious metal with both industrial and monetary demand. Silver is widely used in electronics, solar panels, and jewelry, while also being viewed as a store of value. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is a popular choice for investors seeking to capitalize on silver's dual role as a commodity and an inflation hedge. Unlike gold, silver tends to exhibit higher volatility due to its smaller market size and industrial demand fluctuations, making SLV a potentially higher-risk, higher-reward investment within the precious metals sector.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to other silver ETFs like SIVR (Aberdeen Standard Physical Silver Shares) and PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust), SLV stands out for its liquidity and lower expense ratio (0.50%). SIVR offers a slightly lower expense ratio (0.30%) but has less trading volume. PSLV, on the other hand, is structured as a closed-end fund and may trade at premiums or discounts to its net asset value (NAV). Unlike SLV, PSLV allows for physical redemption, appealing to investors seeking direct ownership. For those looking for leveraged exposure, AGQ (2x leveraged silver ETF) is an alternative, though it carries higher risk due to daily reset mechanics.
Issuer Overview
The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is issued by BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. BlackRock is known for its extensive lineup of ETFs, including iShares, which are widely recognized for their liquidity, transparency, and cost efficiency. The company's robust infrastructure and global presence provide investors with confidence in the fund's management and custodial practices.
Conclusion
The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is a well-established and liquid ETF that provides straightforward exposure to silver prices. Its structure as a physically backed trust makes it a reliable choice for investors seeking to add precious metals to their portfolios. While silver's volatility and lack of income generation are notable risks, SLV remains a popular tool for hedging against inflation and diversifying asset allocations. Investors should weigh its benefits against alternatives like SIVR or PSLV based on their specific goals and risk tolerance.
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