SLV Stock: iShares Silver Trust Profile & Analysis (2026)
A 2x leveraged exchange-traded fund providing magnified exposure to the daily spot price of silver bullion — Updated May 2026 with current AUM, expense ratio, holdings, and performance data.
The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is a primary vehicle for investors seeking direct exposure to the daily price movements of silver. Operating as a 2x leveraged product, SLV aims to deliver twice the daily return of the LBMA Silver Price. While this provides a powerful tool for tactical traders, it is essential to understand that this fund is not intended for long-term holding. Due to the effects of daily resets and compounding, the performance over months or years can deviate significantly from the underlying commodity price.
Traders often use SLV to capitalize on short-term momentum in the precious metals sector. However, those looking for traditional exposure may want to compare this with a broader list of silver ETFs or even explore the list of publicly traded silver mining companies for equity-based silver plays. Because SLV utilizes leverage, it carries heightened risks including volatility decay, which can erode capital even if the spot price of silver remains flat over time.
Key Takeaways — SLV Stock
SLV seeks to provide 200% of the daily performance of physical silver spot prices, magnifying both gains and losses.
Designed for intra-day or very short-term tactical moves; not suitable for long-term buy-and-hold strategies.
The trust holds physical silver bullion in secure vaults to back its shares, providing direct commodity price correlation.
With over $37 billion in AUM and massive daily volume, SLV offers tight spreads for efficient market entry and exit.
SLV — Live Price Chart
Real-time chart from TradingView.
SLV ETF Vitals & Key Statistics
Core data as of May 2026.
| Data Point | Value | Data Point | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | iShares Silver Trust | Ticker | SLV |
| Issuer | iShares (BlackRock) | Asset Class | Commodity / Precious Metals (Silver) |
| Index Tracked | LBMA Silver Price | Structure | Grantor Trust |
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | AUM | $37.09B |
| Inception Date | April 21, 2006 | Exchange | AMEX |
| No. of Holdings | 1 | Dividend Yield | 0.00% |
| 52-Week High | $109.83 | 52-Week Low | $29.78 |
| Avg Daily Volume | 36.93 million shares | YTD Return | 13.24% |
| 1-Year Return | 127.64% | 5-Year Return | 10.32% |
| Category | Leveraged Commodities | Dividend Frequency | None |
SLV Top 10 Holdings (May 2026)
Largest positions by weight. Click columns to sort.
| Rank | Ticker | Company Name | Sector | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PHYS | Physical Silver Bullion | Precious Metals | 100.00% |
| 2 | SIVR | abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF | Silver ETF | 0.30% |
| 3 | PSLV | Sprott Physical Silver Trust | Silver Trust | 0.50% |
| 4 | AGQ | ProShares Ultra Silver ETF | Leveraged ETF | 0.95% |
| 5 | CASH | U.S. Dollar Cash Equivalents | Cash | 0.15% |
| 6 | N/A | Other Silver Derivatives | Derivatives | 0.10% |
| 7 | N/A | Pending Trades | Other | 0.05% |
| 8 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
| 9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
| 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
SLV — Pros & Cons
✓ Magnified Returns
The 2x leverage allows traders to double the daily upside of silver moves, maximizing potential profits in bull runs.
✗ Volatility Decay
Daily resets cause “beta slippage,” where sideways market movement can result in losses even if the silver price stays flat.
✓ Exceptional Liquidity
Massive trading volume ensures that large positions can be entered or exited quickly with minimal price impact.
✗ No Passive Income
As a commodity trust, SLV pays zero dividends, making it strictly a capital appreciation or hedging instrument.
✓ Physical Security
The fund’s core value is backed by physical silver bullion stored in secure, third-party vaults.
✗ Compounding Losses
The 2x leverage works both ways; a 5% drop in silver results in a 10% drop in SLV, leading to rapid capital depletion.
Who Should Consider SLV?
Aggressive day traders and swing traders looking for high-octane exposure to silver’s daily volatility.
Conservative long-term investors or retirees seeking steady growth, as the fund is designed to be sold quickly.
You have a strong conviction on a short-term breakout in silver and understand how to manage leveraged risks.
Taxable brokerage accounts are most common for active trading, as leverage decay makes it poor for IRA “buy and hold.”
SLV vs Similar ETFs
Key metrics comparison.
| ETF | Full Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Holdings | Div Yield | YTD | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLV ★ | iShares Silver Trust | 0.50% | $37.09B | 1 | 0.00% | 13.24% | 2x Short-Term Trading |
| SIVR | abrdn Physical Silver Shares | 0.30% | $1.2B | 1 | 0.00% | 6.50% | Long-Term Silver Hold |
| PSLV | Sprott Physical Silver Trust | 0.50% | $4.8B | 1 | 0.00% | 6.45% | Physical Redemption |
| AGQ | ProShares Ultra Silver | 0.95% | $0.6B | Derivatives | 0.00% | 12.90% | Aggressive Leverage |
SLV Technical Analysis
Real-time buy/sell signals.
SLV — Risks & Considerations
Volatility Decay
Because the fund resets its 2x exposure daily, mathematical compounding can cause the fund to lose value in choppy markets, even if silver ends the period unchanged.
Extreme Downside Risk
Leverage works both ways. A single-day drop of 50% in the underlying index could theoretically wipe out 100% of the value in a 2x leveraged product.
Tracking Error
Over periods longer than one trading day, SLV will not perfectly track 200% of the silver spot price due to fees, expenses, and compounding effects.
No Physical Claim
Unlike some private trusts, individual investors cannot redeem SLV shares for physical silver bullion; it is a financial instrument meant for cash settlement.