Data as of Nov 4, 2026.
ISTM vs SLX: Holdings Overlap & Returns
Over the year to Nov 4, 2026, ISTM returned +18.3% to SLX's +32.9%; 0% of their weight is in the same names.
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Net assets: $28m on Nov 4, 2026 for iShares Strategic Metals ETF, and $150m on Nov 3, 2026 for VanEck Steel ETF.
1% of ISTM's weight is in S&P 500 companies and 99% is outside the index. Holdings as of Nov 3, 2026.
14% of SLX's weight is in S&P 500 companies and 87% is outside the index. Holdings as of Nov 2, 2026.
Pair scorecard
ISTM costs 0.08 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 14.6 points; SLX is 5.6 times larger.
Points (pts) are percentage points.
| Measure | ISTM | SLX |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +18.3% | +32.9% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its all-time high | 22.6%, high on Jan 29, 2026 | 12.2%, high on Jun 2, 2026 |
| Against its benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | Rare earth and critical materials | Miners and metals |
| Its benchmark, total return, 1 year | +15.0% | |
| Against its benchmark, 1 year | ahead by 17.9 pts | |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.47% | 0.55% |
| Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 | $27m | $150m |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | 0% | |
What they share
By the books each fund has filed, ISTM and SLX 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 | ISTM | SLX | ISTM | SLX |
| 3 months | −8.4% | −9.3% | not measured | −8.0 pts vs ACWI |
| 6 months | −12.6% | −8.1% | not measured | −10.7 pts vs ACWI |
| 1 year | +18.3% | +32.9% | not measured | +17.9 pts vs ACWI |
| 3 years | +68.3% | +64.3% | not measured | −13.3 pts vs ACWI |
| Since launchNot the same days: ISTM Sep 2023 · SLX Oct 2006 | +66.9% | +326.1% | 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.
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.
SLX
By weight, 14% of SLX'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 57% of the fund across 39 positions, as published by its issuer for Nov 3, 2026. Over the year to Nov 4, 2026 the fund returned +32.9% with distributions reinvested against +15.0% for its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI Index, so a holder was ahead by 17.9 pts. It sits 12.2% below its all-time high of Jun 2, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Do ISTM and SLX 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.
Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown
ETFIQ, ISTM against SLX, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/istm-vs-slx
ETFIQ. (Nov 4, 2026). ISTM against SLX. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/istm-vs-slx
[ISTM against SLX (ETFIQ, Nov 4, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/istm-vs-slx)
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