A side-by-side comparison of Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETF (SLVR) and iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF (XGD) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | SLVR | XGD |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +4979.72%✓ | -0.55% |
| 1-Day Change | +6390.75%✓ | -3.18% |
| 1-Week Change | +6215.32%✓ | -0.99% |
| 1-Month Change | +5969.27%✓ | -9.38% |
| Current Price | $46.73 | $50.92 |
| AUM | $614M | $4.27B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.68% | — |
| Dividend Yield | 3.64%✓ | 0.72% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | Half-yearly |
| Inception Date | 2025-01-14 | 2001-03-23 |
| Holdings Count | 68 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Gold & Precious Metals Mining Equity | Gold & Precious Metals Mining Equity |
| Beta | 0.00 | 1.04 |
| 52-Week High | $85.90 | $69.54 |
| 52-Week Low | $36.97 | $41.28 |
| 50-Day MA | $56.73 | $57.73 |
| 200-Day MA | $59.63 | $55.90 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | SLVR | XGD |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +4979.72%✓ | -0.55% |
| 1 Year | +21.06% | +26.24%✓ |
| 3 Year | — | +46.04% |
| 5 Year | — | +26.53% |
| 10 Year | — | +15.79% |
| 1Y Volatility | 68.56% | 54.65% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.00 | 1.26 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | FR | First Majestic Silver Corp | 21.23% |
| 2 | PSLV | Sprott Physical Silver | 18.83% |
| 3 | AYA | Aya Gold & Silver Inc | 9.95% |
| 4 | WPM | Wheaton Precious Metals Corp | 5.06% |
| 5 | EDR | Endeavour Silver Corp. | 4.36% |
| 6 | SVM | Silvercorp Metals Inc | 4.41% |
| 7 | ABRA | AbraSilver Resource Corp. | 3.56% |
| 8 | GGD | GoGold Resources Inc. | 3.27% |
| 9 | VZLA | Vizsla Resources Corp | 3.05% |
| 10 | USA | Americas Silver Corp | 2.75% |
| 1 | NEM | Newmont Goldcorp Corp | 16.27% |
| 2 | AEM | Agnico Eagle Mines Limited | 12.25% |
| 3 | ABX | Barrick Gold Corp | 9.17% |
| 4 | WPM | Wheaton Precious Metals Corp | 8.00% |
| 5 | FNV | Franco-Nevada Corporation | 6.12% |
| 6 | AU | AngloGold Ashanti plc | 5.40% |
| 7 | GFI | Gold Fields Ltd ADR | 4.62% |
| 8 | K | Kinross Gold Corp | 3.72% |
| 9 | RGLD | Royal Gold Inc | 2.62% |
| 10 | PAAS | Pan American Silver Corp | 2.70% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | SLVR | XGD |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 97.84% | 100.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.64% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About SLVR
The fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of the value of its total assets in securities of the index. The index is designed to track the performance of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenue and/or assets from mining, production, development, or exploration of silver; and publicly traded closed-end trusts that invest 50% or more of their assets in physical silver. The fund is non-diversified.
About XGD
iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF (XGD.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both SLVR and XGD are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, SLVR scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SLVR and XGD?
SLVR (Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETF) and XGD (iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($614M vs $4.27B), dividend yield (3.64% vs 0.72%), and year-to-date performance (+4979.72% vs -0.55%).
Is SLVR better than XGD?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, SLVR has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy SLVR and XGD on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both SLVR and XGD should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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