Data as of Nov 4, 2026.
GDX vs ISTM: Holdings Overlap & Returns
Over the year to Nov 4, 2026, GDX returned +24.8% to ISTM's +18.3%; 0% of their weight is in the same names.
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Net assets: $23.9bn on Nov 3, 2026 for VanEck Gold Miners ETF, and $28m on Nov 4, 2026 for iShares Strategic Metals ETF.
12% of GDX's weight is in S&P 500 companies and 88% is outside the index. Holdings as of Nov 2, 2026.
1% of ISTM's weight is in S&P 500 companies and 99% is outside the index. Holdings as of Nov 3, 2026.
Pair scorecard
ISTM costs 0.04 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 6.5 points; GDX is far larger, $23.9bn against $27m.
Points (pts) are percentage points.
| Measure | GDX | ISTM |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +24.8% | +18.3% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its all-time high | 27.0%, high on Feb 27, 2026 | 22.6%, high on Jan 29, 2026 |
| Against its benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | Gold miners | Rare earth and critical materials |
| Its benchmark, total return, 1 year | +15.0% | |
| Against its benchmark, 1 year | ahead by 9.8 pts | |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.51% | 0.47% |
| Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 | $23.9bn | $27m |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | 0% | |
What they share
By the books each fund has filed, GDX and ISTM hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight. Holdings dated Nov 3, 2026.
half
0% in common
Only in one fund ↓
Window by window
| Total return | vs its benchmark | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window | GDX | ISTM | GDX | ISTM |
| 3 months | +1.1% | −8.4% | +2.4 pts vs ACWI | not measured |
| 6 months | −8.5% | −12.6% | −11.1 pts vs ACWI | not measured |
| 1 year | +24.8% | +18.3% | +9.8 pts vs ACWI | not measured |
| 3 years | +197.2% | +68.3% | +119.6 pts vs ACWI | not measured |
| Since launchNot the same days: GDX May 2006 · ISTM Sep 2023 | +175.1% | +66.9% | not measured | not measured |
Side by side
As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
0% of the two portfolios are the same securities at the same weight.
GDX
By weight, 12% 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 60% of the fund across 59 positions, as published by its issuer for Nov 3, 2026. Over the year to Nov 4, 2026 the fund returned +24.8% with distributions reinvested against +15.0% for its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI Index, so a holder was ahead by 9.8 pts. It sits 27.0% below its all-time high of Feb 27, 2026.
ISTM
By weight, 1% of ISTM'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 11% of the fund across 86 positions, as published by its issuer for Nov 3, 2026. Over the year to Nov 4, 2026 the fund returned +18.3% with distributions reinvested. It sits 22.6% below its all-time high of Jan 29, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Do GDX and ISTM hold the same stocks?
- By their latest filings, 0% of their books are the same securities at the same weight. Overlap is the sum of the smaller weight of every security they share.
Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.
How this is computed
Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for each security both funds hold.
Every number is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested.
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ETFIQ, GDX against ISTM, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/gdx-vs-istm
ETFIQ. (Nov 4, 2026). GDX against ISTM. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/gdx-vs-istm
[GDX against ISTM (ETFIQ, Nov 4, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/gdx-vs-istm)
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