ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SLV.
The trust seeks to provide a secure and convenient exchange-traded investment alternative
for investors interested in holding physical silver bullion.
Reflect the performance of the price of silver bullion less trust expenses.
Asset class
Commodity
Commodity
Inception date
10/27/2010
04/21/2006
Beta
0.8
1.26
Bottom linePSLV and SLV are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar precious metals exposure with very similar cost and risk. Expense-ratio data isn't available for a clean cost comparison, so weigh yield, strategy, and track record instead.
Most used
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
PSLV has lagged SLV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 47.04% total return against 53.54%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SLV has compounded at 10.61% a year, against 9.17% for PSLV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Oct 2010” measures every fund from October 29, 2010 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.
Quick verdict
PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust) is a closed-end fund, while SLV (iShares Silver Trust) is an ETF — they take fundamentally different approaches.
They track different benchmarks: PSLV is linked to Silver while SLV tracks Silver bullion spot price, which means their performance drivers differ.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, PSLV has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, while SLV has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, at current distribution rates. Both pay none distributions.
PSLV yield—
SLV yield0.00%
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. Beta is 0.8 for PSLV and 1.26 for SLV, indicating PSLV is less volatile relative to the market.
PSLV beta0.8
SLV beta1.26
Fund details
PSLV is managed by Sprott (launched 10/27/2010). SLV is managed by iShares (launched 04/21/2006) with $35.1B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Which of PSLV or SLV pays more dividend income?
SLV currently reports a distribution yield, while PSLV has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.
What is the difference between PSLV and SLV?
PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust) tracks Silver with a metals approach, while SLV (iShares Silver Trust) tracks Silver bullion spot price with a metals approach. They are issued by Sprott and iShares respectively.
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 has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. SLV has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available.
Which has performed better historically, PSLV or SLV?
PSLV has lagged SLV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 47.04% total return against 53.54%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SLV has compounded at 10.61% a year, against 9.17% for PSLV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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