At a glance
GDXJ charges 0.52% a year, above the 0.51% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 6th cheapest of 9). It has $7.08B in assets, the 2nd largest of that group; it paid 2.56% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned +15.8% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 6th of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +46.9% a year. At its worst it fell 50.7% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 48.8% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 2 months and 24 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 42.7% of the fund, out of 116 in all.
The short version
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) tracks the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index, a basket of smaller and mid-sized gold and silver miners based mostly in Canada and Australia. Because its index leaves out the largest miners, its swings are extreme: it returned 173% in 2025, but it lost 89% between April 2011 and January 2016. Its 0.52% annual fee is close to the 0.51% average for similar funds.
Price history
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GDXJ +15.8% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDXJ official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +173.25% | — | +17.86% | +21.35% | — |
| GDXJ price data to Oct 27, 2026 | -9.1% | +15.8% | +46.9% | +19.9% | +11.8% | +2.2% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, GDXJ returned +15.8%, 6th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +19.9% and its 10-year +11.8%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 50.7% and regained its old high 2.1 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2013 (-60.8%); its best was 2025 (+172.0%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 88.7% (Apr 8, 2011 to Jan 19, 2016), recovered by Jan 20, 2026.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | -9.1% | — |
| 2025 | +172.0% | +173.25% |
| 2024 | +15.7% | +14.93% |
| 2023 | +7.1% | +7.78% |
| 2022 | -14.5% | -14.48% |
| 2021 | -21.2% | -21.44% |
| 2020 | +30.4% | +30.07% |
| 2019 | +40.4% | +41.31% |
| 2018 | -11.0% | -11.58% |
| 2017 | +8.2% | +7.89% |
| 2016 | +73.0% | +73.75% |
| 2015 | -19.1% | — |
| 2014 | -22.3% | — |
| 2013 | -60.8% | — |
| 2012 | -16.8% | — |
| 2011 | -34.0% | — |
| 2010 | +66.9% | — |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 38.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 50.7%, back to its old high 2.1 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 27.6% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 48.8%, back to its old high 23.9 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.6500 | +138.7% |
| 2024 | $1.1100 | +311.1% |
| 2023 | $0.2700 | +50.0% |
| 2022 | $0.1800 | -76.0% |
| 2021 | $0.7500 | -12.8% |
| 2020 | $0.8600 | +437.5% |
| 2019 | $0.1600 | +14.3% |
| 2018 | $0.1400 | +1300.0% |
| 2017 | $0.0100 | -99.3% |
| 2016 | $1.5100 | +978.6% |
| 2015 | $0.1400 | -22.2% |
| 2014 | $0.1800 | -94.0% |
| 2012 | $3.0000 | -52.8% |
| 2011 | $6.3600 | -45.7% |
| 2010 | $11.7200 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 116 securities; the ten largest made up 42.69% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Evolution Mining Ltd | 6.37% | |
| Equinox Gold Corp | 6.28% | |
| Alamos Gold Inc | 6.23% | |
| Endeavour Mining PLC | 5.33% | |
| Coeur Mining Inc | 5.14% | |
| Industrias Penoles SAB de CV | 2.88% | |
| First Majestic Silver Corp | 2.72% | |
| Hecla Mining Co | 2.63% | |
| IAMGOLD Corp | 2.62% | |
| Eldorado Gold Corp | 2.49% | |
| Harmony Gold Mining Co Ltd | 2.05% | |
| Lundin Gold Inc | 1.93% | |
| OceanaGold Corp | 1.80% | |
| DPM Metals Inc | 1.75% | |
| G Mining Ventures Corp | 1.67% |
By country
Canada 54.02%Australia 18.5%United States 9.12%United Kingdom 6.47%Mexico 2.88%By asset type
Stocks 99.92%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors withdrew a net $437.7M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -1.93%, +1.67%, -17.06%.
How it works
GDXJ is a passive index fund. VanEck tries to match the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index before fees, not beat it. The fund normally keeps at least 80% of its assets in the index's securities and in gold mining companies. To join the index, a company must earn at least half its revenue from gold or silver mining, royalties or streaming, or hold at least half its mineral resources in gold or silver. Streaming means paying a miner up front in return for a share of its future metal.
Here "junior" is about size. The index ranks eligible companies by market value, which is share price times shares outstanding. It leaves out the largest companies and the very smallest. Existing members get slightly wider cutoffs, so they don't bounce in and out. As of December 31, 2025, the index held 86 companies worth between about $59.8 million and $21.87 billion, and about 92% of it was gold miners.
As of June 30, 2026, the fund held 116 stocks. Its 10 largest holdings made up 42.69% of assets, led by Evolution Mining (6.4%), Equinox Gold (6.3%) and Alamos Gold (6.2%). Canadian companies made up 54% of the fund. The fund is "non-diversified," which means it can put more money into a single company than a typical fund. It held no derivatives, and its portfolio turnover was 36%.
What it really costs
- GDXJ charges 0.52% a year, versus an average of 0.51% for the similar funds below (6th of 9, cheapest first).
- Of that, 0.5% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $53 in the first year and $653 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDXJ | $53 | $167 | $291 | $653 |
In a retirement portfolio
GDXJ is a concentrated bet on smaller gold and silver miners that has had very deep drops and long recoveries, so it fits as a small add-on rather than a foundation.
GDXJ can add exposure to gold and silver miners, but it has not cushioned stock market falls. It started trading in November 2009, so it missed the 2008 crisis. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 50.7% between February 21 and March 13, 2020, then recovered by May 15, 2020. In the 2022 bear market it fell 48.8% and took about 24 months to recover. Its worst calendar year was 2013 (−60.8%). Its deepest drop, 88.7% from 2011 to 2016, was not fully recovered until January 2026. Someone who has to sell shares in a bad year could lock in steep losses. As of October 27, 2026, it yielded 2.56%, paid once a year, and it costs 0.52% a year. Past results don't predict future returns, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting a small, deliberate position in mid-sized gold and silver miners such as Evolution Mining, Equinox Gold and Alamos Gold, alongside a broader portfolio.
- People who can sit through extreme swings, like a 50.7% drop in three weeks in early 2020 and a 173% gain in 2025.
- Those who prefer a large, established index fund: $7.08 billion in net assets as of June 30, 2026, at a 0.52% fee.
Look elsewhere if
- Retirees who may need to sell during a downturn: GDXJ took about 24 months to recover from its 2022 drop and nearly ten years after 2016.
- Income seekers who want regular payments: GDXJ pays once a year, and its yield was 2.56% as of October 27, 2026.
- Cost-focused investors: RING (0.39%) and AUMI (0.35%) also hold gold miners for less, though only 30% to 39% of holdings overlap.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDXJ this fund | — | 0.52% | $7.08B | +15.8% | +46.9% |
| AUMI Themes Gold Miners ETF | 39% | 0.35% | $24.7M | +17.8% | — |
| GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 37% | 0.51% | $22.75B | +10.6% | +42.6% |
| SGDM Sprott Gold Miners ETF | 33% | 0.5% | $558.7M | +24.9% | +43.9% |
| RING iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF | 30% | 0.39% | $2.52B | +22.8% | +49.4% |
| GOAU US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners… | 28% | 0.6% | $164.8M | +13.3% | +39.5% |
| SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF | 26% | 0.65% | $3.95B | +19.5% | +48.2% |
| SLVP iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF | 24% | 0.39% | $1.02B | +26.0% | +53.8% |
Questions investors ask
Is GDXJ good for retirement?
GDXJ is a high-risk niche fund, not a core retirement holding. It fell 88.7% between April 2011 and January 2016 and didn't fully recover until January 2026. It has also had huge gains, including 173.25% in 2025. Its one-year volatility, a measure of how widely returns swing, was 56.5% as of October 27, 2026. For a retiree, that means the value could drop sharply just when money is needed.
What's the difference between GDXJ and GDX?
Both are VanEck gold miner index funds with nearly the same fee, 0.52% for GDXJ and 0.51% for GDX. GDXJ's index leaves out the largest miners, and only about 37% of their holdings overlap. GDX is much bigger, with $22.75 billion in net assets as of June 30, 2026, against $7.08 billion for GDXJ. One-year returns were similar: 15.8% for GDXJ as of October 27, 2026, and 15.2% for GDX as of October 29, 2026.
Does GDXJ pay a dividend?
Yes, but only once a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, GDXJ paid $2.65 per share, a trailing yield of 2.56%. The money comes from dividends paid by the mining companies it holds. That means it can change a lot from year to year as metal prices and company profits rise and fall. Anyone who wants monthly or quarterly income would get just one payment a year here.
What is GDXJ's expense ratio?
GDXJ's expense ratio is 0.52% a year, according to its prospectus filed April 29, 2026. Most of that is a 0.50% management fee, and there is no fee waiver. That's close to the 0.51% average for similar funds, and it ranks 6th of 9 on cost. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 earning 5% a year would cost about $53 in fees over one year, $291 over five years and $653 over ten.
Why is GDXJ so volatile?
GDXJ is volatile because it holds smaller mining companies, which its prospectus calls speculative. Their profits tend to magnify moves in gold and silver prices. The fund is also concentrated: as of June 30, 2026, 54% of assets were in Canadian companies and the top 10 holdings made up 42.69%. Foreign currency and emerging-market risks add to the swings. Its strongest and weakest quarters both came in 2020, at +72.29% and −32.21%.