Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
PSLV has lagged SLV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 2.27% total return against 4.76%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SLV has compounded at 12.01% a year, against 10.66% for PSLV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Oct 2010” measures every fund from October 29, 2010 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Not a distribution payer
PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. PSLV is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield. SLV (iShares Silver Trust) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. SLV is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Bottom lineWe won't call this one: we have neither a distribution rate nor an expense ratio for PSLV. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer security as provisional.
PSLV vs SLV: two silver wrappers
Same metal, two structures. PSLV is a Sprott closed-end physical trust. SLV is the iShares silver trust. Neither pays income.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SLV.
PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust) is a closed-end fund, while SLV (iShares Silver Trust) is an ETF — their trading structures differ.
They have different reference exposures: PSLV is linked to Silver while SLV is linked to Silver bullion spot price, which means their performance drivers differ.
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On a $10,000 investment, PSLV has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available, while SLV has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available, at current distribution rates.
PSLV yield—
SLV yield—
Cost & efficiency
SLV charges a 0.50% expense ratio — roughly $500 over 10 years on $10,000 (simplified, not compounded). PSLV has not published an expense ratio, so a direct cost comparison isn't possible.
SLV ER0.50%
Strategy & risk
PSLV tracks Silver with a metals approach, while SLV tracks Silver bullion spot price with a metals approach.
PSLV beta—
SLV beta1.22
Fund details
PSLV is managed by Sprott (launched 10/27/2010). SLV is managed by iShares (launched 04/21/2006) with $29.7B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PSLV and SLV?
Both hold silver, not silver miners. PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust) is a Sprott closed-end physical trust. SLV (iShares Silver Trust) is the iShares silver trust. Neither pays a distribution. Cost is — versus 0.50%; size is — versus $29.7B as of October 2026. Structure and how you own the metal are the decision, not a yield race.
Which of PSLV or SLV pays more dividend income?
Neither PSLV nor SLV currently reports a distribution yield, so neither is an income fund today. Compare them on holdings, cost, and total return instead.
Can I hold both PSLV and SLV?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, PSLV or SLV?
SLV charges a 0.50% expense ratio. PSLV has not published an expense ratio, so a direct fee comparison isn't possible.
How much income does $10,000 in PSLV vs SLV generate?
At current rates, PSLV does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate. SLV does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate.
Which has performed better historically, PSLV or SLV?
PSLV has lagged SLV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 2.27% total return against 4.76%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SLV has compounded at 12.01% a year, against 10.66% for PSLV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
SLV is vastly larger, with $29.7B in assets versus a structure where PSLV's size is not publicly reported, and has been trading since 04/21/2006, while PSLV was established 10/27/2010. SLV's $29.7B dwarfs PSLV's unreported asset base, and the two securities' prices—$51.51 for SLV and $18.48 for PSLV—do not indicate true value without knowing each fund's shares outstanding and net asset value per share.
Who each is best for
PSLV: Fits investors who view allocated, segregated physical silver storage as a meaningful benefit and are comfortable navigating the closed-end fund structure, including the possibility of trading at a discount or premium to intrinsic silver value.
Key risks to know
NAV discount or premium in PSLV. As a closed-end fund, PSLV can trade above or below its underlying per-share silver value; buying at a premium or selling into a discount will reduce returns independent of silver's actual price movement. SLV, as an ETF, is designed to minimize such divergence.
**Allocated vs. Allocated silver removes counterparty risk to the custodian but may be harder to liquidate quickly if redemption demand spikes; unallocated silver depends entirely on the custodian's credit and regulatory oversight. Both track the same underlying commodity, so the choice hinges on custody preference and how much opacity in PSLV's true cost you're willing to accept. Past performance of these funds does not predict future silver prices or currency trends.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
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