Data as of .
ISTM vs NIKL: which is really different?
ISTM and NIKL hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and ISTM returned more over the year.
ETFIQ Off-Index Score: ISTM 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, ISTM and NIKL hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in ISTM | Only in NIKL |
|---|---|
| BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY 17.46% | ANTAM Persero Tbk PT 14.86% |
| CASH COLLATERAL USD BZUFT 9.45% | Nickel Industries Ltd. 11.93% |
| USD CASH 3.30% | Merdeka Battery Materials Tbk PT 11.52% |
| TREASURY BILL 2.92% | IGO Ltd. 8.25% |
| TREASURY BILL 2.91% | Talon Metals Corp. 6.48% |
| CRH AMERICA FINANCE INC 144A 1.51% | Vale Indonesia Tbk PT 4.75% |
| TREASURY BILL 1.46% | Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk PT 4.62% |
| TREASURY BILL 1.45% | Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd. 4.24% |
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISTM | NIKL | ISTM | NIKL | ISTM | NIKL | |
| 3 months | +2.2% | +0.7% | −0.1 pts | −1.6 pts | +4.7 pts | +3.1 pts |
| 6 months | +11.0% | −1.4% | −7.0 pts | −19.4 pts | −13.2 pts | −25.6 pts |
| 1 year | +43.4% | +10.8% | +26.9 pts | −5.8 pts | +21.6 pts | −11.0 pts |
| 3 years | not published | −7.1% | not published | −85.5 pts | not published | −105.3 pts |
| Since launch | +86.4% | −12.2% | +2.1 pts | −115.1 pts | −18.4 pts | −152.3 pts |
| ISTM iShares Strategic Metals ETF Holds 98 stocks in rare earth and critical materials, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | NIKL Sprott Nickel Miners ETF Holds 26 stocks in miners and metals, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | iShares | Sprott |
| Theme | Rare earth and critical materials | Miners and metals |
| 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 | 98 | 26 |
| Top ten, share of the fund | 46.0% | 74.4% |
| Expense ratio | 0.47% | 0.75% |
| Fee for the differing part | 0.47% | 0.75% |
| Total return, 1 year | +43.4% | +10.8% |
| vs the S&P 500 | +26.9 pts | −5.8 pts |
| vs the Nasdaq-100 | +21.6 pts | −11.0 pts |
| Below its high | −13.6% | −30.3% |
| Net assets | $34m | $57m |
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.
NIKL in plain words
By weight, 0% of NIKL'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 74% of the fund across 26 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026 the fund returned +10.8% with distributions reinvested against +16.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was behind by 5.8 pts. It sits 30.3% below its all-time high of Jan 26, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Do ISTM and NIKL 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, ISTM or NIKL?
- ISTM has 0% of its weight in S&P 500 names and NIKL has 0%, so ISTM differs more from the index.
- Which is cheaper, ISTM or NIKL?
- ISTM charges 0.47% a year and NIKL charges 0.75%, 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, ISTM against NIKL, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/istm-vs-nikl Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.