Data as of .
GDXJ vs ISTM: which is really different?
GDXJ and ISTM hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and GDXJ returned more over the year.
ETFIQ Off-Index Score: GDXJ scores higher
How much of it is not the index it is sold as an alternative to?
A percentile among the 379 thematic ETFs with a holdings filing. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All thematic ETFs ranked by it · How it is computed
0% of the two portfolios are the same securities at the same weight.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, GDXJ and ISTM hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in GDXJ | Only in ISTM |
|---|---|
| Coeur Mining Inc 6.84% | BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY 17.46% |
| Alamos Gold Inc 6.53% | CASH COLLATERAL USD BZUFT 9.45% |
| Equinox Gold Corp 6.04% | USD CASH 3.30% |
| Endeavour Mining Plc 5.64% | TREASURY BILL 2.92% |
| Iamgold Corp 5.14% | TREASURY BILL 2.91% |
| Industrias Penoles Sab De Cv 2.59% | CRH AMERICA FINANCE INC 144A 1.51% |
| Hecla Mining Co 2.43% | TREASURY BILL 1.46% |
| First Majestic Silver Corp 2.39% | TREASURY BILL 1.45% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Sep 18, 2026.
Performance, window by window
| Window | Total return | vs the S&P 500 | vs the Nasdaq-100 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDXJ | ISTM | GDXJ | ISTM | GDXJ | ISTM | |
| 3 months | +16.1% | +2.2% | +13.8 pts | −0.1 pts | +18.5 pts | +4.7 pts |
| 6 months | +18.8% | +11.0% | +0.7 pts | −7.0 pts | −5.5 pts | −13.2 pts |
| 1 year | +45.2% | +43.4% | +28.7 pts | +26.9 pts | +23.5 pts | +21.6 pts |
| 3 years | +274.9% | not published | +196.5 pts | not published | +176.7 pts | not published |
| Since launch | +64.0% | +86.4% | −739.5 pts | +2.1 pts | −1626.2 pts | −18.4 pts |
| GDXJ VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF Holds 157 stocks in gold miners, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | ISTM iShares Strategic Metals ETF Holds 98 stocks in rare earth and critical materials, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | VanEck | iShares |
| Theme | Gold miners | Rare earth and critical materials |
| In the S&P 500 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Active share vs the S&P 500 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| In the Nasdaq-100 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Holdings | 157 | 98 |
| Top ten, share of the fund | 41.6% | 46.0% |
| Expense ratio | 0.52% | 0.47% |
| Fee for the differing part | 0.52% | 0.47% |
| Total return, 1 year | +45.2% | +43.4% |
| vs the S&P 500 | +28.7 pts | +26.9 pts |
| vs the Nasdaq-100 | +23.5 pts | +21.6 pts |
| Below its high | −20.3% | −13.6% |
| Net assets | $9.2bn | $34m |
GDXJ in plain words
By weight, 0% of GDXJ'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 42% of the fund across 157 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026 the fund returned +45.2% with distributions reinvested against +16.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was ahead by 28.7 pts. It sits 20.3% below its all-time high of Feb 27, 2026.
ISTM in plain words
By weight, 0% 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 46% of the fund across 98 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026 the fund returned +43.4% with distributions reinvested against +16.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was ahead by 26.9 pts. It sits 13.6% below its all-time high of Jan 29, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Do GDXJ and ISTM hold the same stocks?
- By their latest filings, 0% of their books are the same securities at the same weight, which is mostly different names. Overlap is the sum of the smaller weight of every security they share.
- Which is more different from the S&P 500, GDXJ or ISTM?
- GDXJ has 0% of its weight in S&P 500 names and ISTM has 0%, so GDXJ differs more from the index.
- Which is cheaper, GDXJ or ISTM?
- GDXJ charges 0.52% a year and ISTM charges 0.47%, so ISTM is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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, GDXJ against ISTM, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/gdxj-vs-istm Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.