Which One of These Precious Metal ETFs Shine the Most?

2 hours ago 1

Adé Hennis, The Motley Fool

Sat, January 24, 2026 astatine 4:56 PM CST 4 min read

The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:GDX) and abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (NYSEMKT:PPLT) whitethorn entreaty to investors seeking to people precious metals, but their structures and exposures disagree significantly. GDX is simply a large, liquid ETF focused connected golden miners, portion PPLT provides nonstop vulnerability to platinum’s spot price. This examination breaks down their costs, caller returns, volatility, portfolio makeup, and different quirks to assistance investors measurement each option’s fit.

Metric

GDX

PPLT

Issuer

VanEck

Aberdeen Investments

Expense ratio

0.51%

0.60%

1-yr instrumentality (as of Jan. 24, 2026)

185.16%

190.64%

Beta

0.64

0.34

AUM

$30.36 billion

$3.52 billion

Beta measures terms volatility comparative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year play returns. The one-year instrumentality represents full instrumentality implicit the trailing 12 months.

PPLT’s higher outgo whitethorn beryllium justified by its higher one-year output and if investors are seeking nonstop platinum exposure.

Metric

GDX

PPLT

Max drawdown (five years)

-46.52%

-35.73%

Growth of $1,000 implicit 5 years

$2,587

$2,133

PPLT holds carnal platinum alternatively than stocks. The fund’s 16-year way grounds makes it 1 of the older options successful its niche. Its terms scope implicit the past twelvemonth has spanned $82.79 to $225.71, reflecting platinum’s important terms swings.

GDX, by contrast, tracks an scale of planetary golden mining companies. Top holdings see Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE:AEM), Newmont Corp. (NYSE:NEM), and Barrick Mining Corp. (NYSE:B). Outside of the apical three, each of its holdings person little than 5% value successful the full fund.

First, it should beryllium noted that PPLT presently offers nary dividend yield, portion GDX has a output of 0.59% and pays dividends annually. But overall, whether vulnerability is indirect oregon direct, some ETFs connection unsocial concern opportunities, arsenic they are heavy exposed to a assemblage that skyrocketed successful 2025.

Investing successful precious metals is often considered a hedge against the U.S. dollar, arsenic they thin to emergence successful terms erstwhile the dollar weakens, and there’s economical turmoil and uncertainty. And arsenic golden and platinum go progressively rare, their worth is expected to emergence implicit time. In fact, platinum is estimated to beryllium astatine slightest 10 times rarer than gold, contempt it being little sought aft by retail consumers.


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