SLVR vs VYM
Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SLVR or VYM?
Silver against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SLVR led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 73.5%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SLVR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $807M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.30% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 78 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.80% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +83.26%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 53.4% | 9.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.7% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $29,942Best | $13,055 |
| Top 10 Weight | 73.5% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Sprott ETFS | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Silver | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 14, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 15, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.6 years).
SLVR vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SLVR vs VYM Performance
Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETF (SLVR) is an ETF from Sprott ETFS and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SLVR returned +83.26% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, SLVR is up 13.80% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SLVR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 53.4% compared with 9.5% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -43.7% for SLVR and -14.5% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SLVR charges 0.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $4 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SLVR currently yields 4.30% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 76 holdings in SLVR and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.7% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in SLVR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 78 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SLVR (97.4% of the fund), and 5 for SLVR that do not appear in VYM (4.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SLVR and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SLVR or VYM?
SLVR has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SLVR or VYM?
Over the past year SLVR returned +83.26% vs +20.84% for VYM, so SLVR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SLVR annualized +98.46% vs +18.13% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SLVR or VYM?
SLVR has been the more volatile fund at 53.4% annualized versus 9.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SLVR -43.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SLVR and VYM?
SLVR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SLVR or VYM?
SLVR yields 4.30% while VYM yields 2.24%, so SLVR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SLVR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SLVR led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 73.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.