Silver Up 142% in Year After $122 Peak—Is SLV ETF Still a Buy?

Coverage today questions the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) after silver's 142% surge over 12 months, fueled by industrial demand from solar, EVs, AI data centers, supply constraints, and safe-haven buying. The metal hit a record $122/oz in January before pulling back nearly 40%. SLV, managing $38 billion, rallied 133% but lags spot silver long-term due to a 0.50% annual fee, with 10-year returns of 328% vs. silver's 376%. Analysts stay bullish on silver's outlook while noting ETF tracking gaps.