Average Daily Volume
15.1K
Fund Overview
The VanEck Steel ETF (SLX) is an exchange-traded fund that provides investors with exposure to the steel industry. The fund seeks to replicate the performance of the NYSE Arca Steel Index, which tracks the overall performance of companies involved in the production of steel and related products. SLX invests in a diversified portfolio of global steel companies, including producers of raw materials, manufacturers of steel products, and companies involved in steel distribution. The ETF offers a focused way to gain exposure to the steel sector, which is often influenced by global economic growth, infrastructure spending, and commodity price trends.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
Steel
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
No
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- 2.57 %
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
14 %
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the SLX ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Provides targeted exposure to the global steel industry, which can benefit from economic growth and infrastructure development.
- Diversified holdings across steel producers, raw material suppliers, and distributors reduce single-company risk.
- Liquidity and transparency of an ETF structure, making it easy to trade.
- Potential for capital appreciation during periods of rising steel demand and commodity prices.
Potential Risks
- Sensitive to cyclical economic trends, as steel demand fluctuates with industrial activity.
- Exposure to commodity price volatility, which can impact profitability of steel companies.
- Geopolitical risks, as many steel producers operate in emerging markets.
- Regulatory risks, including environmental policies that may affect production costs.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+10.8%
|
+7.5%
|
-9.2%
|
+12.6%
|
+7.2%
|
-11.2%
|
+7.2%
|
+2.4%
|
-5.3%
|
+2.7%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+4.2%
|
+2.2%
|
-1.2%
|
-2.2%
|
+2.9%
|
+6.9%
|
+2.9%
|
+4.5%
|
+2.0%
|
+9.5%
|
+1.9%
|
+6.6%
|
| 2024 |
-5.9%
|
+1.7%
|
+2.8%
|
-5.2%
|
+3.6%
|
-6.6%
|
+5.3%
|
-5.0%
|
+5.7%
|
-4.6%
|
+6.2%
|
-15.1%
|
| 2023 |
+17.5%
|
-2.9%
|
-3.5%
|
-4.5%
|
-8.6%
|
+15.0%
|
+10.5%
|
-4.7%
|
-2.7%
|
-4.5%
|
+11.6%
|
+8.5%
|
| 2022 |
-1.7%
|
+14.9%
|
+12.9%
|
-8.2%
|
+0.9%
|
-21.3%
|
+9.1%
|
-2.0%
|
-9.7%
|
+11.3%
|
+18.6%
|
-3.5%
|
| 2021 |
-3.1%
|
+12.3%
|
+14.9%
|
+6.0%
|
+6.8%
|
-1.9%
|
+4.6%
|
-3.6%
|
-11.6%
|
+2.0%
|
-7.7%
|
+10.0%
|
| 2020 |
-11.1%
|
-12.5%
|
-25.4%
|
+8.7%
|
+9.5%
|
+5.8%
|
+3.6%
|
+7.6%
|
+0.5%
|
+3.5%
|
+24.2%
|
+14.5%
|
| 2019 |
+13.9%
|
+1.0%
|
-0.2%
|
-3.6%
|
-8.9%
|
+11.4%
|
-4.7%
|
-12.6%
|
+4.1%
|
+1.7%
|
+6.5%
|
+5.5%
|
| 2018 |
+7.8%
|
-0.4%
|
-6.9%
|
+5.7%
|
-1.1%
|
-5.3%
|
+5.8%
|
-7.9%
|
+4.0%
|
-7.0%
|
-6.0%
|
-7.7%
|
| 2017 |
+9.3%
|
+3.8%
|
-5.8%
|
-5.8%
|
-3.8%
|
+5.2%
|
+6.9%
|
+3.7%
|
-1.1%
|
+0.4%
|
0.0%
|
+11.0%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
RIO
|
RIO TINTO PLC ADR |
10.8 % |
|
VALE
|
VALE SA ADR |
8.4 % |
|
X
|
UNITED STATES STEEL CORP |
5.8 % |
|
RS
|
RELIANCE INC |
5.7 % |
|
NUE
|
NUCOR CORP |
5.4 % |
|
STLD
|
STEEL DYNAMICS INC |
5.3 % |
|
PKX
|
POSCO HOLDINGS INC ADR |
4.8 % |
|
HCC
|
WARRIOR MET COAL INC |
4.8 % |
|
TS
|
TENARIS SA ADR |
4.8 % |
|
CMC
|
COMMERCIAL METALS CO |
4.6 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 26 total holdings.
Related ETFs: SLX vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
SLX tracks the NYSE Arca Steel Index, which is a modified market-cap-weighted index of companies involved in the steel industry. The index includes global companies engaged in steel production, manufacturing, and distribution. The fund primarily holds common stocks of these companies and is rebalanced quarterly to maintain alignment with the index. The methodology ensures diversified exposure across the steel value chain, from raw material suppliers to finished product manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of companies does SLX invest in?
SLX invests in companies involved in steel production, raw material supply, and steel product manufacturing, including both domestic and international firms.
How does SLX differ from broader materials ETFs?
SLX is narrowly focused on the steel industry, whereas broader materials ETFs may include exposure to other sectors like mining, chemicals, or construction materials.
What are the main drivers of SLX's performance?
SLX's performance is influenced by global steel demand, commodity prices (iron ore, coking coal), economic growth, and infrastructure spending trends.
Industry Overview
The VanEck Steel ETF (SLX) provides exposure to the steel industry, a critical sector for global infrastructure, construction, and manufacturing. Steel demand is closely tied to economic growth, urbanization, and government spending on infrastructure. The industry is highly cyclical, with prices and profitability influenced by raw material costs (such as iron ore and coking coal), trade policies, and global supply-demand dynamics. SLX offers investors a way to capitalize on long-term trends in infrastructure development while navigating the sector's inherent volatility.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to other materials-focused ETFs like XME (SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF) and PICK (iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF), SLX offers a more concentrated exposure to the steel industry. While XME and PICK provide broader exposure to metals and mining sectors, SLX is specifically tailored for investors seeking pure-play steel exposure. Additionally, SLX's expense ratio is competitive within the niche materials ETF space, making it an efficient choice for targeted steel investments.
Issuer Overview
VanEck is a well-established asset management firm known for its specialized ETFs, particularly in commodities, emerging markets, and niche sectors. The company has a strong track record in managing thematic and sector-specific funds, leveraging its expertise to provide targeted investment solutions.
Conclusion
The VanEck Steel ETF (SLX) is a specialized tool for investors looking to gain exposure to the global steel industry. Its focused approach, combined with the liquidity and transparency of an ETF structure, makes it a compelling option for those bullish on steel demand driven by infrastructure growth and economic recovery. However, investors should be mindful of the sector's cyclicality and inherent volatility.
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