Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
AGG vs GDX: how they differ
Over the year GDX returned more, +40.2% against −0.7%, and AGG charges 0.03% against 0.51%.
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and VanEck Gold Miners ETF.
| AGG iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Thematic ETF |
| Issuer | iShares | VanEck |
| What it is | US aggregate bonds | Miners and metals |
| Total return, 1 year | −0.7% | +40.2% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | −18.2 pts | +22.7 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.51% |
| Holdings | not filed | 59 |
AGG in plain words
AGG is a bond fund tracking the US aggregate bonds. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −0.7% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.03% a year. It sat 3.7% below its high of Aug 4, 2020 on Sep 11, 2026.
GDX in plain words
By weight, 11% of GDX's portfolio is stocks that are also in the S&P 500; its active share against the S&P 500 is 100%. The top ten holdings are 58% of the fund across 59 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 10, 2026. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 the fund returned +40.2% with distributions reinvested against +17.5% for the S&P 500, so a holder was ahead by 22.7 pts. It sits 16.2% below its all-time high of Feb 27, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, AGG or GDX?
- In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, AGG returned −0.7% and GDX returned +40.2%, so GDX returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, AGG or GDX?
- AGG charges 0.03% a year and GDX charges 0.51%, so AGG is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- Are AGG and GDX the same kind of fund?
- No. AGG is an index ETF and GDX is a thematic ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, AGG against GDX, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/AGG-GDX Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources