Key Takeaways
- Investors analyze SGDM's holdings for diversified exposure
- SGDM outperforms SLVP in recent quarterly returns
- SLVP tracks a broader index of miners
- Fees drive SGDM's higher expense ratio
Australians are known for their love of gold, and it’s no surprise that the country is home to some of the world’s most prolific gold miners. But with the recent surge in precious metals mining ETFs, investors are left wondering which fund is the better bet: Sprott’s SGDM or iShares’ SLVP. The answer isn’t straightforward, but let’s dive into the numbers and explore the underlying factors driving this market.
Australia’s gold rush has been in full swing since the start of the year, with the ASX Gold Index soaring by 25% in the past quarter alone. But it’s not just local investors who are piling in; global funds are also taking notice. According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, Gold mining ETFs have attracted a whopping $10 billion in net inflows over the past six months. This influx of capital is largely driven by growing concerns about inflation, central bank policies, and the ongoing precious metals bull run.
At the heart of this market are two key players: Sprott’s SGDM and iShares’ SLVP. While both funds track the same underlying index, their underlying holdings and investment strategies couldn’t be more different. SGDM is a more actively managed fund, with Sprott’s team of gold experts scouring the globe for the best mining stocks. In contrast, SLVP is a more passive fund that tracks the S&P/TSX Global Gold Index. This difference in approach has significant implications for investors, as we’ll explore in more detail below.
Setting the Stage
The precious metals mining sector has been on a tear for months, with gold and silver prices reaching multi-year highs. But while the overall market is strong, not all miners are created equal. In fact, the sector has been plagued by concerns about production costs, regulatory risks, and the ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. Despite these challenges, some miners have managed to outperform the broader market, while others have struggled to stay afloat.
One of the key drivers of the precious metals bull run is the growing demand for gold and silver as safe-haven assets. According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, gold prices could surge by 20% in the next 12 months as investors continue to flock to the yellow metal. This demand is being driven by a range of factors, including the ongoing currency wars, concerns about inflation, and the growing uncertainty surrounding global economic growth.
In Australia, the gold mining sector has been a bright spot for investors. Local miners such as Newcrest Mining (NCM.AX) and Resolute Mining (RSG.AX) have seen their share prices soar in recent months, driven by strong production results and growing investor confidence. But not all Australian miners are faring as well; companies like Evolution Mining (EVN.AX) have struggled to stay afloat amidst growing production costs and regulatory risks.
What's Driving This
So what’s behind the surge in precious metals mining ETFs? According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, the answer lies in the growing demand for safe-haven assets. Gold prices have been driven higher by a combination of factors, including the ongoing currency wars, concerns about inflation, and the growing uncertainty surrounding global economic growth. Meanwhile, the ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic have also contributed to the precious metals bull run, as investors seek to diversify their portfolios and reduce their exposure to volatile commodities.
At the heart of this demand is the growing perception that gold and silver are no longer just commodities, but rather a safe-haven asset class in their own right. According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, gold prices could surge by 20% in the next 12 months as investors continue to flock to the yellow metal. This demand is being driven by a range of factors, including the ongoing currency wars, concerns about inflation, and the growing uncertainty surrounding global economic growth.
But it’s not just investors who are buying into the precious metals bull run; hedge funds are also piling in. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, hedge funds have increased their exposure to gold mining stocks by 25% over the past quarter alone. This influx of capital is largely driven by the growing perception that gold is a store of value, rather than just a commodity.
Winners and Losers
Not all miners are created equal, and some have managed to outperform the broader market while others have struggled to stay afloat. In Australia, local miners such as Newcrest Mining (NCM.AX) and Resolute Mining (RSG.AX) have seen their share prices soar in recent months, driven by strong production results and growing investor confidence. Meanwhile, companies like Evolution Mining (EVN.AX) have struggled to stay afloat amidst growing production costs and regulatory risks.
According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, Newmont (NEM) and Barrick Gold (ABX) have been among the top performers in the precious metals mining sector, driven by their strong production results and growing investor confidence. Meanwhile, companies like Kinross Gold (KGC) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU) have struggled to stay afloat amidst growing production costs and regulatory risks.
But it’s not just the large-cap miners that are performing well; smaller companies like Ramsay Mining (RMS.AX) and Gold Fields (GFI) have also seen their share prices surge in recent months. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, these smaller companies have benefited from their lower production costs and growing investor confidence.

Behind the Headlines
While the overall market is strong, there are underlying concerns about the precious metals sector that investors need to be aware of. According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, the sector has been plagued by concerns about production costs, regulatory risks, and the ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. Despite these challenges, some miners have managed to outperform the broader market, while others have struggled to stay afloat.
One of the key drivers of the precious metals bull run is the growing demand for gold and silver as safe-haven assets. According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, gold prices could surge by 20% in the next 12 months as investors continue to flock to the yellow metal. This demand is being driven by a range of factors, including the ongoing currency wars, concerns about inflation, and the growing uncertainty surrounding global economic growth.
But it’s not just the safe-haven demand that’s driving the precious metals bull run; the ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic have also contributed to the sector’s strength. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, the pandemic has disrupted supply chains and driven up production costs, making it more difficult for miners to produce gold and silver.
Industry Reaction
The precious metals mining sector has been vocal in its reaction to the ongoing bull run. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, mining executives have expressed their support for the sector’s strength, citing growing demand and improving production results.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest in gold and silver from investors,” said Paulson & Co.’s Paul Singer in a recent interview with Bloomberg. “I think the sector is going to continue to do well, driven by growing demand and improving production results.”
But not all executives are sharing the same optimism. According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, some mining executives are expressing concerns about the sector’s strength, citing growing production costs and regulatory risks.
“I think the sector has been driven higher by sentiment rather than fundamentals,” said Goldman Sachs analyst, Jeffrey Currie, in a recent report. “We’re seeing a lot of investors piling into the sector, but I think that demand is being driven more by sentiment than fundamentals.”

Investor Takeaways
So what does this mean for investors? According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, the precious metals bull run is expected to continue in the near term, driven by growing demand and improving production results.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest in gold and silver from investors,” said Paulson & Co.’s Paul Singer in a recent interview with Bloomberg. “I think the sector is going to continue to do well, driven by growing demand and improving production results.”
But investors need to be aware of the underlying risks in the sector, according to Goldman Sachs analyst, Jeffrey Currie. “I think the sector has been driven higher by sentiment rather than fundamentals,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of investors piling into the sector, but I think that demand is being driven more by sentiment than fundamentals.”
Potential Risks
While the precious metals bull run is expected to continue in the near term, there are underlying risks that investors need to be aware of. According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, the sector has been plagued by concerns about production costs, regulatory risks, and the ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic.
One of the key risks is the growing production costs faced by miners. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, the pandemic has disrupted supply chains and driven up production costs, making it more difficult for miners to produce gold and silver.
Another risk is the regulatory environment, which has been increasingly unfavorable for miners in recent months. According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, the regulatory environment has become more stringent in many countries, making it more difficult for miners to operate.

Looking Ahead
So what does the future hold for the precious metals mining sector? According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, the sector is expected to continue to do well in the near term, driven by growing demand and improving production results.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest in gold and silver from investors,” said Paulson & Co.’s Paul Singer in a recent interview with Bloomberg. “I think the sector is going to continue to do well, driven by growing demand and improving production results.”
But investors need to be aware of the underlying risks in the sector, according to Goldman Sachs analyst, Jeffrey Currie. “I think the sector has been driven higher by sentiment rather than fundamentals,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of investors piling into the sector, but I think that demand is being driven more by sentiment than fundamentals.”
Ultimately, the future of the precious metals mining sector will depend on a range of factors, including the demand for gold and silver, the regulatory environment, and the ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. But one thing is clear: the sector is expected to continue to do well in the near term, driven by growing demand and improving production results.
