SLV vs SGDM: Is a Silver ETF Better Than a Gold Miner Fund to Ride the Commodity Boom in 2026?

The article compares iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) as investment vehicles for precious metals exposure. SLV offers direct physical silver bullion exposure with a 58.7% 1-year return, while SGDM provides indirect gold exposure through mining equities with a 40.1% 1-year return. The author recommends SGDM due to its lower expense ratio (0.46% vs 0.50%), dividend income, and more favorable tax treatment compared to SLV's collectibles tax classification.