At a glance
SILJ charges 0.69% a year, above the 0.5% average of the 6 funds most like it (the most expensive of 7). It has $3.40B in assets, the 4th largest of that group; it paid 2.26% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned +12.4% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 6th of those 7 funds; over three years it returned +45.5% a year. At its worst it fell 51.0% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 46.7% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 2 months and 32 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 55.5% of the fund, out of 64 in all.
The short version
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) is an index fund that tracks the Nasdaq Junior Silver Miners Index. The index holds silver mining, exploration, development and streaming companies, most of them in Canada and the US. It is one of the most volatile ways to own silver miners: it fell 79.1% at its worst and gained 184% in 2025. Its 0.69% fee is the highest of the seven similar funds compared.
Price history
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SILJ +12.4% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILJ official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +184.02% | — | +13.41% | +20.28% | +3.86% |
| SILJ price data to Oct 27, 2026 | -12.2% | +12.4% | +45.5% | +14.2% | +7.4% | +2.6% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, SILJ returned +12.4%, 6th of 7 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +14.2% and its 10-year +7.4%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 51% and regained its old high 2.2 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2013 (-53.5%); its best was 2025 (+184.2%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 79.1% (Jan 22, 2013 to Jan 20, 2016), recovered by Aug 29, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | -12.2% | — |
| 2025 | +184.2% | +184.02% |
| 2024 | +6.6% | +6.40% |
| 2023 | -5.2% | -4.63% |
| 2022 | -15.4% | -15.74% |
| 2021 | -23.2% | -22.75% |
| 2020 | +33.0% | +33.46% |
| 2019 | +57.0% | +56.26% |
| 2018 | -28.0% | -28.44% |
| 2017 | -5.7% | -5.54% |
| 2016 | +139.7% | +139.64% |
| 2015 | -36.9% | — |
| 2014 | -11.9% | — |
| 2013 | -53.5% | — |
| 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 41.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 51%, back to its old high 2.2 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 22.4% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 46.7%, back to its old high 32.2 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.5500 | -23.6% |
| 2024 | $0.7200 | +71900.0% |
| 2023 | $0.0010 | -90.0% |
| 2022 | $0.0100 | -75.0% |
| 2021 | $0.0400 | -80.0% |
| 2020 | $0.2000 | +11.1% |
| 2019 | $0.1800 | +38.5% |
| 2018 | $0.1300 | +8.3% |
| 2016 | $0.1200 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | $0.1200 | +1100.0% |
| 2013 | $0.0100 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 64 securities; the ten largest made up 55.54% of assets. It also reported 9.68% in a money-market fund, most likely cash collateral from lending out shares rather than uninvested money.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| First Majestic Silver Corp | 9.65% | |
| Hecla Mining Co | 9.61% | |
| Boliden AB | 5.49% | |
| KGHM Polska Miedz SA | 5.16% | |
| SSR Mining Inc | 4.84% | |
| Cia de Minas Buenaventura SAA | 4.55% | |
| Wheaton Precious Metals Corp | 4.44% | |
| Hycroft Mining Holding Corp | 4.31% | |
| Endeavour Silver Corp | 4.29% | |
| Aya Gold & Silver Inc | 3.21% | |
| Coeur Mining Inc | 3.21% | |
| Seabridge Gold Inc | 3.20% | |
| Silvercorp Metals Inc | 3.18% | |
| OR Royalties Inc | 3.01% | |
| Perpetua Resources Corp | 2.98% |
By country
Canada 55.3%United States 26.23%Peru 5.76%Sweden 5.68%Poland 5.16%By asset type
Stocks 99.72%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors withdrew a net $101.3M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -1.07%, +5.57%, -16.42%.
How it works
SILJ is an index fund. It tries to match, before fees, the total return of the Nasdaq Junior Silver Miners Index, which Nasdaq, Inc. owns and calculates. Amplify Investments is the adviser; Tidal Investments is sub-adviser. It does not try to beat the index or move to cash in a slump. It generally holds every index stock in roughly index proportions (replication), but may hold a representative sample when some shares are costly or hard to buy.
Research firm Metals Focus sorts candidates into categories such as silver mining, project development, streaming (funding mines in exchange for future metal), and gold, zinc and copper mining. Eligible companies earn most revenue from silver, produce a significant share of world silver, or mainly explore for or develop new silver supply. Each needs a market value of at least $20 million and three-month average daily trading value of at least $10,000. Weights follow free-float market value (shares available to public investors), with theme and other adjustments. Rebalancing happens each February, May, August and November.
The fund is non-diversified, so a few stocks can dominate. As of June 30, 2026, it held 64 companies. First Majestic Silver (9.7%) and Hecla Mining (9.6%) led, and the top 10 made up 55.5% of assets. It held no derivatives and uses no leverage.
What it really costs
- SILJ charges 0.69% a year, versus an average of 0.5% for the similar funds below (7th of 7, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $70 in the first year and $859 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILJ | $70 | $221 | $384 | $859 |
In a retirement portfolio
SILJ is a concentrated bet on silver mining stocks that has swung from a 79.1% loss to a 184% one-year gain, so it fits only as a small add-on.
SILJ adds a focused bet on silver miners, but its falls have been deep. It dropped 51% in early 2020 and recovered in about two months. From April to September 2022 it fell 46.7%, and that took about 32 months to recover. Its worst calendar year was 2013, at -53.5%. Its deepest drop, 79.1% from January 2013 to January 2016, did not fully recover until August 2025. The fund launched in 2012, so it has no 2008 record. Anyone who has to sell shares in a bad year could end up selling near a low. The 2.26% trailing yield, as of October 27, 2026, is paid once a year. The 0.69% expense ratio is above the 0.50% average of similar funds. Past results don't predict the future, and a retirement plan needs to look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting a small, high-risk stake in silver miners and developers who can live with drops like the 79.1% fall from 2013 to 2016.
- Those wanting heavy exposure to First Majestic Silver and Hecla Mining, each about 9.6% of assets as of June 30, 2026.
- Long-term holders who can sit through multi-year slumps, such as the 2022 decline that took about 32 months to recover.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: 0.69% is the highest of seven similar funds, and the iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP) charges 0.39%.
- Retirees who need steady cash flow: the 2.26% trailing yield is paid only once a year.
- Anyone wanting silver itself: SILJ owns mining company stocks, not bullion, so company costs, debt and management also drive its returns.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILJ this fund | — | 0.69% | $3.40B | +12.4% | +45.5% |
| SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF | 46% | 0.65% | $3.95B | +19.5% | +48.2% |
| SLVP iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF | 46% | 0.39% | $1.02B | +26.0% | +53.8% |
| AGMI Themes Silver Miners ETF | 44% | 0.35% | $10.4M | +29.2% | — |
| GOAU US Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners… | 24% | 0.6% | $164.8M | +13.3% | +39.5% |
| GDXJ VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | 23% | 0.52% | $7.08B | +15.8% | +46.9% |
| GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 22% | 0.51% | $22.75B | +10.6% | +42.6% |
Questions investors ask
What does SILJ invest in?
SILJ holds the stocks of silver mining, exploration, development and streaming companies in the Nasdaq Junior Silver Miners Index. As of June 30, 2026, it had 64 holdings, and the 10 largest made up 55.5% of assets. First Majestic Silver (9.7%) and Hecla Mining (9.6%) led, followed by Boliden, KGHM Polska Miedz and SSR Mining. Canadian companies made up 55.3% and US companies 26.2%, with smaller stakes in Peru, Sweden, Poland and Mexico.
What's the difference between SILJ and SIL?
Both own silver mining stocks, and about 46% of their holdings overlap. SILJ tracks the Nasdaq Junior Silver Miners Index, which includes exploration and development companies alongside producers. The Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) charges 0.65% a year, compared with 0.69% for SILJ. SIL held about $3.9 billion as of July 31, 2026. As of October 27, 2026, SIL returned 19.5% over one year, compared with 12.4% for SILJ. SLVP costs less than either, at 0.39%.
Does SILJ pay dividends?
Yes, but only once a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, SILJ paid about $0.55 per share, a trailing yield of 2.26%. Mining companies' payouts tend to rise and fall with metal prices and profits, so this amount can change a lot from year to year. Because there is only one payment a year, the fund does not suit anyone counting on regular monthly or quarterly income.
Is SILJ good for retirement?
SILJ works more as a small, high-risk satellite than as a core retirement holding. Its deepest fall, 79.1% from January 2013 to January 2016, did not fully recover until August 2025. It also fell 46.7% in 2022 and took about 32 months to recover. Gains can be large, such as 184% in 2025. Still, a retiree who has to sell during a slump could lock in steep losses. Its 0.69% fee is also above that of similar funds.
How risky is SILJ?
Very risky for a stock fund. Its one-year volatility, a measure of how widely returns swing, was 58.7% as of October 27, 2026. Its beta of 2.54 means it has moved about two and a half times as much as the broad stock market. In the quarter ending March 31, 2020, it lost 45.33%, then gained 77.11% the next quarter. The fund is non-diversified and concentrated in mining, so trouble at a few companies can hurt it badly.