GLD vs SLV Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
GLD and SLV both provide physical precious metal exposure, but gold and silver have different demand drivers and risk-return profiles. GLD is a monetary and safe-haven asset driven by real rates and geopolitical risk, while SLV is a hybrid metal where industrial demand from solar and electronics adds economic cycle sensitivity. GLD is appropriate for portfolio hedging; SLV is appropriate for investors who want precious metals exposure with additional upside from clean energy demand.
GLD vs SLV is a choice between pure monetary metal exposure (gold) and a hybrid industrial/monetary metal (silver) — gold is a more reliable portfolio hedge, while silver offers higher volatility and potential upside tied to both precious metals cycles and clean energy demand growth.
GLD holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. SLV has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+78.87% vs +24.77% for GLD).
- →prefer gold's lower volatility and stronger safe-haven characteristics as a portfolio hedge
- →value gold's central bank demand and monetary reserve status as a price floor mechanism
- →want precious metals exposure with low equity correlation for portfolio diversification purposes
- →are comfortable with no income generation and returns driven purely by gold price appreciation
- →prefer silver's higher beta to precious metals bull markets for greater upside potential
- →value silver's industrial demand from solar panels and EVs as an additional structural growth driver
- →want to bet on the gold-to-silver ratio compressing (silver outperforming gold) in a metals bull market
- →are comfortable with higher volatility and deeper drawdowns than gold in exchange for greater upside potential
| Metric | GLD | SLV |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 68.0 | 68.0 |
| Latest close | $387.12 | $59.51 |
| 1M return | -5.92% | -11.05% |
| 6M return | -3.05% | -1.24% |
| 1Y return | +24.77% | +78.87% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | GLD | SLV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.48K (+24.8%) started 2025-06-18 | $17.89K (+78.9%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $23.47K (+134.7%) started 2021-06-18 | $24.92K (+149.2%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $31.42K (+214.2%) started 2016-06-20 | $35.74K (+257.4%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | GLD | SLV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.40% | 0.50% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $150.37B | $36.82B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.17 | 0.49 |
| 52-week change | 24.77% | 78.87% |
| Metric | GLD | SLV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | +24.77% | +78.87% |
| 6M return | -3.05% | -1.24% |
| 1M return | -5.92% | -11.05% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.78 | 1.22 |
| Beta | 0.17 | 0.49 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 5Y CAGR | +18.61% | +20.04% |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | GLD | SLV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +24.77% | +78.87% |
| CAGR | +24.79% | +78.94% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.78 | 1.22 | |
| Max drawdown | 24.46% | 45.40% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.27% | 28.54% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.25% | 36.83% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +134.72% | +149.20% |
| CAGR | +18.61% | +20.04% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.79 | 0.57 | |
| Max drawdown | 24.46% | 45.40% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.27% | 28.54% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.25% | 36.83% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +214.20% | +257.42% |
| CAGR | +12.14% | +13.59% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.51 | 0.42 | |
| Max drawdown | 24.46% | 45.40% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.27% | 28.54% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.25% | 36.83% |
| Category | GLD | SLV |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | SPDR Gold Shares | iShares Silver Trust |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.40% | 0.50% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $150.37B | $36.82B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
- →Gold is the premier safe-haven asset held by central banks globally, providing floor demand from sovereign reserve managers
- →Low or negative equity correlation makes GLD an effective portfolio hedge during risk-off events
- →Deep liquidity and mature options market provide flexibility for institutional hedging strategies
- →Industrial demand from solar panels and EVs creates structural demand growth independent of purely monetary drivers
- →Silver historically outperforms gold in the second and later stages of precious metals bull markets (silver 'catches up')
- →Dual monetary/industrial nature means SLV can respond to both inflation hedging demand and economic growth simultaneously
- →Gold generates no income — total return is entirely price appreciation, making it a poor choice in high real-rate environments
- →0.40% expense ratio is higher than IAU, and gold's returns in low-inflation, rising-rate environments can be negative for extended periods
- →Gold price can be volatile in the short term despite its safe-haven reputation
- →Higher volatility than gold — silver moves more sharply in both directions, creating larger drawdowns during risk-off periods
- →Industrial demand sensitivity means silver can decline with base metals during economic slowdowns even if gold holds up
- →0.50% expense ratio is the highest of the major precious metals ETFs
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