SLV Crushes SGDM with 138.5% 1-Year Return and Stronger 5-Year Growth

iShares Silver Trust (SLV) continues to outperform Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) in the latest analysis, delivering a 138.5% 1-year return as of April 22, 2026, versus SGDM's 83.2%, alongside superior five-year growth of $2,865 from $1,000 compared to $2,596. Both ETFs charge a 0.50% expense ratio, but SLV's $36.3 billion AUM and physical silver backing minimize company-specific risks unlike SGDM's concentrated 39-stock gold miner portfolio with $703.5 million AUM. This reinforces direct silver exposure as a lower-beta alternative to leveraged miner equities for precious metals investors. Reports from April 24 highlight SLV's edge despite a slightly larger 52-week drawdown.