What five years of weekly data say
- GLD returned +19.7% a year and SLV +23.7% a year over the past five years, dividends reinvested.
- GLD was the calmer ride: 17% annual volatility, against 35%.
- Related (correlation 0.77). They share a direction more often than not, with real room to diverge.
- GLD costs less to hold: 0.40% a year against 0.50%, or $10 less per $10,000 each year.
The numbers side by side
| Metric | SLSLV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $401.17 | $59.93 |
| Fund size | $152.86B | $34.68B |
| 1-year return | +18.3% | +53.5% (ahead) |
| 3-year return, a year | +31.0% | +40.6% (ahead) |
| 5-year return, a year | +19.7% | +23.7% (ahead) |
| Volatility, a year | 17% (ahead) | 35% |
| Worst drawdown | −24% (ahead) | −45% |
| Worst week | −10.3% (ahead)Mar 2026 | −18.8%Jan 2026 |
| Beta | 0.45 | 1.23 |
| Dividend yield | none | none |
| Expense ratio | 0.40% (ahead) | 0.50% |
Do GLD and SLV move together?
Correlation compares GLD’s and SLV’s weekly returns from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Two holdings near +1 fall on the same weeks, so owning both doesn’t cushion anything. Your portfolio has more than two lines, and Portfolio Terminal runs this check across every pair you hold.
How far each one fell
GLD
−24%
From its Feb 2026 high to Jul 2026. Still 17% below it today.
SLV
−45%
From its Jan 2026 high to Jul 2026. Still 35% below it today.
Worst peak-to-trough fall on weekly closes · dividends reinvested
GLD vs SLV: what people ask
Is GLD better than SLV?
Over the past five years, SLV delivered the higher return: +23.7% a year against +19.7% for GLD, dividends reinvested. It also fell further at its worst (−45% against −24%), so the extra return came with a rougher ride. Which is better depends on the job it does in your portfolio, and past returns don’t predict future ones.
What is the difference between GLD and SLV?
GLD is SPDR Gold Shares, a fund with $152.86B in assets. SLV is iShares Silver Trust, a fund with $34.68B in assets. GLD charges 0.40% a year and SLV 0.50%.
Should I own both GLD and SLV?
Their weekly returns had a correlation of 0.77 over the past five years. They share a direction more often than not, with real room to diverge. Whether that suits you depends on everything else you hold, which is the check Portfolio Terminal runs across a whole portfolio.
Which is riskier, GLD or SLV?
SLV swung more: 35% annual volatility against 17% for GLD. At their worst, GLD fell 24% and SLV 45% from a previous high. Against the broad market, their betas are 0.45 and 1.23.
Which is cheaper to hold, GLD or SLV?
GLD charges 0.40% a year and SLV 0.50%. On $10,000, that is $10.00 a year in favor of GLD.
Returns use weekly closes adjusted for dividends and splits, from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Quotes, fees and holdings come from public market data and refresh hourly. This page describes what happened; it is not investment advice, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns.