SLV ETF — iShares Silver Trust

iShares Silver Trust (SLV)

Updated October 2, 2026.

SLV is an ETF linked to Silver bullion spot price. its expense ratio is 0.50%. Total return is 296.3% over the past 20.4 years, 455.0 points behind SPY at 751.3%.

iShares Silver Trust is an ETF that tracks the spot price of physical silver bullion, seeking to reflect silver's performance minus trust expenses through a passive, non-managed structure. The fund does not distribute income to shareholders and carries an expense ratio of 0.50%. It appeals to investors seeking direct commodity exposure to silver as a portfolio diversifier or inflation hedge, rather than those seeking regular dividend income.

SLV performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-02.

Total return is 296.3% over the past 20.4 years, 455.0 points behind SPY at 751.3%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 28.7%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 52.3%.

SLV key facts

Issuer

iShares

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Commodity

Inception date

04/21/2006

Expense ratio

0.50%

Distribution frequency

None

Last close

$54.74 (as of 2026-10-02)

AUM

$32,134,737,721

Market cap

$23,331,278,848

Average volume

17526500.0

Beta

1.23

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (the posted rate) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: iShares or company page; Index: Silver bullion spot price; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

SLV risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 52.3%.

Who may consider SLV — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (SLV does not currently distribute); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Compare SLV

SLV vs similar funds:

• SLV vs GLD
• SLV vs SIL
• SLV vs SIVR
• SLV vs SLVP
• SLV vs SLVO
• SLV vs KSLV

Frequently asked questions

More securities from iShares.