iShares Silver Trust is the ETF behind the ticker SLV.
Here’s the clear, no-jargon breakdown
What it is
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A commodity ETF created to track the price of silver
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It does this by holding physical silver bars in secure vaults
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When silver prices go up or down, SLV moves with it (minus fees)
How it works
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The trust owns actual silver bullion
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Shares are created or redeemed by large institutions (“authorized participants”)
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Regular investors just buy/sell shares on the stock exchange, like a stock
Key facts
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Sponsor: BlackRock (iShares brand)
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Ticker: SLV
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Underlying asset: Physical silver
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Expense ratio: ~0.50% per year
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Dividend: None
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Goal: Mirror silver’s spot price, not beat it
What it’s for
People use iShares Silver Trust to:
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Get silver exposure without storing metal
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Hedge against inflation or USD weakness
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Diversify beyond stocks & bonds
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Trade silver short-term or hold it long-term
What it’s NOT
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Not a silver mining company
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Not a growth or income investment
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Not redeemable for silver for retail investors
