Which returned more over the last year, BOXX or GDX?

In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, BOXX returned +4.0% and GDX returned +40.2%, so GDX returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.

Which is cheaper, BOXX or GDX?

BOXX charges 0.19% a year and GDX charges 0.51%, so BOXX is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Are BOXX and GDX the same kind of fund?

No. BOXX 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.

Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.

ETFIQetfiq.com · independent ETF data

BOXX vs GDX: how they differ

Over the year GDX returned more, +40.2% against +4.0%, and BOXX charges 0.19% against 0.51%.

Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF and VanEck Gold Miners ETF.

BOXX and GDX on the fields both publish, as of Sep 12, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
	BOXX Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF	GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF
Where it sits	Core index fund	Thematic ETF
Issuer	Alpha	VanEck
What it is	1-3 Month Box	Miners and metals
Total return, 1 year	+4.0%	+40.2%
S&P 500 over the same days	+17.5%	+17.5%
Gap to the S&P 500	−13.5 pts	+22.7 pts
Expense ratio	0.19%	0.51%
Holdings	not filed	59

BOXX in plain words

BOXX is a cash and treasury bills tracking the 1-3 Month Box. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +4.0% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.19% a year.

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, BOXX or GDX?: In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, BOXX returned +4.0% and GDX returned +40.2%, so GDX returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
Which is cheaper, BOXX or GDX?: BOXX charges 0.19% a year and GDX charges 0.51%, so BOXX is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Are BOXX and GDX the same kind of fund?: No. BOXX 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.

Other comparisons

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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.

BOXX against GDX, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 12, 2026. Every figure is arithmetic on a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, BOXX against GDX, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/BOXX-GDX Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources