Does Vanguard have a precious metals ETF?

Vanguard does not have a precious metals ETF. However, the asset manager does offer a mutual fund that provides some exposure to the sector. It manages the Vanguard Global Capital Cycles Fund (NASDAQMUTFUND: VGPMX), which invests at least 25% of its assets in precious metals and mining securities.

How do I invest in precious metals?

There are many ways to invest in precious metals. You can buy and own the physical metal (e.g., gold and silver coins, gold and silver bars, gold and silver jewelry), buy shares of a mining company focused on precious metals, or invest in an exchange-traded fund that holds precious metals mining stocks or the physical metal. Each investment option has benefits and drawbacks.

Do precious metals rise in a recession?

Yes, the value of precious metals tends to rise during a recession. That's largely because they are a safe-haven investment, as investors shift their money out of riskier assets like stocks and into safer assets such as gold and silver when the economy is weakening.

Which precious metal is most commonly held in ETFs?

Gold is the most commonly held precious metal in ETFs. In August 2026, four of the five largest precious metals ETFs by assets under management were gold ETFs.

Can you hold precious metals ETFs in a retirement account?

Yes, you can hold most precious metals ETFs in a retirement account. Most precious metals ETFs trade like stocks, allowing you to easily buy shares in an IRA.

What is the best ETF for precious metals?

Investors widely view the SPDR Gold Shares as the best ETF for precious metals due to its large size. However, it only invests in gold. The abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF is the best ETF for those seeking broader exposure to precious metals, as it owns gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

Is there an ETF that holds multiple precious metals?

Yes, the abrdn Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF holds multiple physical precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, and palladium).

Is there a Fidelity precious metals ETF?

Yes, Fidelity offers the Fidelity Select Gold Portfolio (NASDAQMUTFUND:FSAGX). It primarily invests in gold mining companies. The fund also invests in companies that mine silver, platinum, diamonds, and other precious metals, as well as in gold bullion and coins.

5 Best Precious Metals ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

A list of the top precious metals ETFs to buy in 2026.

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Aug 7, 2026 at 1:22 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Precious metals ETFs offer direct price exposure to precious metals without needing to physically handle them.
Top ETFs like SPDR Gold Shares provide a simple way to invest in metals like gold.
These ETFs provide portfolio diversification and a hedge against inflation.

Precious metals exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are funds that enable you to invest in various precious metals, like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Many precious metals ETFs hold the physical metal in bank vaults. As a result, they provide investors with direct exposure to the ups and downs of precious metal prices without having to buy, insure, or store the metals themselves.

Investing in precious metals enables you to diversify your portfolio, hedge against inflation, and protect your money from the devaluing of fiat currency.

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Here's a closer look at some of the best precious metals exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

5 top precious metals ETFs for 2026

There are 25 precious metals ETFs in August 2026. Some hold precious metals stored in bank vaults. Others make a different type of investment, including derivatives such as options or futures contracts, which still offer some direct exposure to metal prices. In addition, investors can consider an ETF that holds mining stocks focused on precious metals.

Of these options, the best precious metals ETFs hold physical precious metals. They tend to deliver performance that reasonably matches precious metal prices after fees. The top five precious metals ETFs to consider are:

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Current price
SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEMKT:GLD)	$384.58
iShares Silver Trust (NYSEMKT:SLV)	$54.78
Abrdn Platinum ETF Trust - Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (NYSEMKT:PPLT)	$15.25
Abrdn Precious Metals Basket ETF - Abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF (NYSEMKT:GLTR)	$187.45
Abrdn Palladium ETF Trust - Abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF (NYSEMKT:PALL)	$20.77

Data as of Oct 11, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 total entries.

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Here's a closer look at these leading precious metals ETFs.

1. SPDR Gold Shares

NYSEMKT: GLD

SPDR Gold Shares

Today's Change

(1.57%) $5.96

Current Price

$384.58

Key Data Points

AUM

$142B

Expense Ratio

0.40%

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SPDR Gold Shares is the largest gold ETF with over $139 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of August 2026. The fund's sole assets are gold bullion stored in bank vaults and some cash. It held over 30.2million ounces with JPMorgan (JPM +0.47%) and another 2.4 million ounces with HSBC (HSBC +0.40%). This strategy allows investors to participate in gold's upside without owning the physical metal. That reduces costs (insurance and storage) and risks (theft or misplacement).

The ETF is highly liquid due to its massive size and listing on a major stock exchange. These factors allow holders to quickly sell shares and convert them to cash when needed. Owners pay a relatively modest ETF expense ratio of 0.4% in exchange for these benefits (the fund's sponsor also offers a lower-cost option for individual investors, SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM +1.55%), with a 0.1% expense ratio). While the expense ratio has caused the SPDR Gold Shares price to slightly underperform gold over the long term, it may be worth the cost compared to alternatives. For example, it can be more expensive to buy a safe and insurance to securely store gold bullion.

Given this ETF's size and liquidity, many investors consider it the gold standard among gold ETFs.

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2. iShares Silver Trust

NYSEMKT: SLV

iShares Silver Trust

Today's Change

(2.49%) $1.33

Current Price

$54.78

Key Data Points

AUM

$30B

Expense Ratio

0.50%

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iShares Silver Trust is the largest silver ETF with over $30.1 billion in AUM as of August 2026. The fund holds physical silver bars stored in bank vaults (487.8 million ounces). It enables investors to participate in silver's upside with fewer hassles and risks than alternative investments, such as buying silver stocks or coins.

This ETF is also highly liquid, with a reasonable ETF expense ratio of 0.5%. Though the fee has caused the fund to slightly underperform silver's price over the years, it may still be worth it. The ETF enables investors to roughly match the price of silver. That provides a more certain return than alternatives, such as silver mining stocks, which can significantly underperform due to myriad issues.

3. abrdn Standard Physical Platinum Shares ETF

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NYSEMKT: PPLT

Abrdn Platinum ETF Trust - Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF

Today's Change

(2.90%) $0.43

Current Price

$15.25

Key Data Points

AUM

$1.9B

Expense Ratio

0.60%

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The abrdn Standard Physical Platinum Shares ETF lets you invest directly in platinum, a key precious metal used primarily in catalytic converters for the automotive industry. The ETF holds physical bars stored in bank vaults (it held over 1.1 billion ounces worth almost $1.8 billion as of August 2026) and is one of the few ways to invest in platinum.

Although an interested investor could buy platinum bars or jewelry, few publicly traded mining companies focus on the rare metal. Those that do mainly mine platinum along with other metals, giving their investors less direct exposure to platinum prices. These challenges of investing in platinum make the fund's 0.6% expense ratio even more reasonable.

4. abrdn Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF

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NYSEMKT: GLTR

Abrdn Precious Metals Basket ETF - Abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF

Today's Change

(1.99%) $3.65

Current Price

$187.45

Key Data Points

AUM

$2.6B

Expense Ratio

0.60%

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The abrdn Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF gives investors direct exposure to several precious metals. The ETF's precious metals basket includes physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. It holds physical bars of these precious metals in bank vaults. As of August 2026, the fund's nearly $2.5 billion of net assets were approximately:

Gold: 370,554 ounces and 60.7% of its net assets.
Silver: 13.6 million ounces and 32.5%.
Palladium: 74,110 ounces 3.7%
Platinum: 49,407 ounces 3.1%.

The ETF provides broad exposure to a basket of precious metals for a reasonable cost, given its 0.6% expense ratio. It's one of the few funds providing investors with diversified exposure to the top precious metals in one vehicle.

5. abrdn Standard Physical Palladium Shares ETF

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NYSEMKT: PALL

Abrdn Palladium ETF Trust - Abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF

Today's Change

(1.37%) $0.28

Current Price

$20.77

Key Data Points

AUM

$586M

Expense Ratio

0.60%

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The abrdn Standard Physical Palladium Shares ETF allows investors to invest directly in palladium. Like platinum, palladium is primarily used for catalytic converters in cars. Palladium's other uses include jewelry and some dental fillings and crowns. And like the other ETFs on this list, this one holds the precious metal in bank vaults (it held 484.5 million ounces worth $591 million as of August 2026).

The ETF is one of the few ways to invest directly in palladium. Few mining companies focus on producing palladium since it's not as prevalent in jewelry as other precious metals. That makes the ETF's 0.6% expense ratio a reasonable cost to gain exposure to this particular precious metal.

How to buy precious metals ETFs

Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the ETF: Enter the ticker into the search bar to bring up the ETF’s trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this ETF.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Benefits and risks of investing in precious metal ETFs

Investing in precious metals ETFs has both benefits and drawbacks. Some of the pros include:

Inflation hedge: Investing in precious-metal ETFs can help protect your portfolio against inflation.
Diversification: Precious metals ETFs can help further diversify your portfolio.
Appreciation potential: Precious metals ETFs can increase in value, helping you grow your wealth.
Wealth protection: Investing in precious metals ETFs can help protect your money from the devaluation of fiat currency.

On the other hand, some risks of precious metals ETFs include:

Underperformance potential: Precious metals ETFs can underperform their underlying precious metals over time due to their expense ratios. Meanwhile, top mining stocks have the potential to outperform precious metals as production and profits increase.
No physical possession: While most precious metals ETFs hold physical metals in bank vaults, you can't take physical possession of those metals if needed during an extreme financial emergency.
No income: Physical precious metals ETFs don't generate any income.

Methodology: How these ETFs were chosen

Roughly two dozen ETFs focus exclusively on holding physical precious metals in bank vaults, while several others invest in precious metals derivatives or gold- or silver-mining stocks. These ETFs are among the largest and lowest-cost funds offering direct exposure to physical precious metals.

Should you invest in precious metals ETFs

ETFs are the easiest way to invest in precious metals. They offer the opportunity to invest in physical precious metals without having to buy, securely store, or insure them, all at a reasonable cost. ETFs are also highly liquid, making them a breeze to buy and sell. For most investors, an ETF is the best way to add some precious metals exposure to their portfolio.

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Investing in precious metals ETFs: FAQ

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst specializing in the energy, industrials, and real estate sectors since 2012. He also covers dividend-paying stocks, pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

TMFmd19

@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

5 Best Precious Metals ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

A list of the top precious metals ETFs to buy in 2026.

Key Points

5 top precious metals ETFs for 2026

1. SPDR Gold Shares

Key Data Points

2. iShares Silver Trust

Key Data Points

3. abrdn Standard Physical Platinum Shares ETF

Key Data Points

4. abrdn Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF

Key Data Points

5. abrdn Standard Physical Palladium Shares ETF

Key Data Points

How to buy precious metals ETFs

Benefits and risks of investing in precious metal ETFs

Methodology: How these ETFs were chosen

Should you invest in precious metals ETFs

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Investing in precious metals ETFs: FAQ

Does Vanguard have a precious metals ETF?

Does Vanguard have a precious metals ETF?

How do I invest in precious metals?

How do I invest in precious metals?

Do precious metals rise in a recession?

Do precious metals rise in a recession?

Which precious metal is most commonly held in ETFs?

Which precious metal is most commonly held in ETFs?

Can you hold precious metals ETFs in a retirement account?

Can you hold precious metals ETFs in a retirement account?

What is the best ETF for precious metals?

What is the best ETF for precious metals?

Is there an ETF that holds multiple precious metals?

Is there an ETF that holds multiple precious metals?

Is there a Fidelity precious metals ETF?

Is there a Fidelity precious metals ETF?

About the Author

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5 top precious metals ETFs for 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

3. abrdn Standard Physical Platinum Shares ETF

4. abrdn Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF

Key Data Points

5. abrdn Standard Physical Palladium Shares ETF

Key Data Points

How to buy precious metals ETFs

Benefits and risks of investing in precious metal ETFs

Methodology: How these ETFs were chosen

Should you invest in precious metals ETFs

Best Titanium ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

3 Best Lithium Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Copper Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

4 Best Metals ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

Investing in precious metals ETFs: FAQ

Does Vanguard have a precious metals ETF?

Does Vanguard have a precious metals ETF?

How do I invest in precious metals?

How do I invest in precious metals?

Do precious metals rise in a recession?

Do precious metals rise in a recession?

Which precious metal is most commonly held in ETFs?

Which precious metal is most commonly held in ETFs?

Can you hold precious metals ETFs in a retirement account?

Can you hold precious metals ETFs in a retirement account?

What is the best ETF for precious metals?

What is the best ETF for precious metals?

Is there an ETF that holds multiple precious metals?

Is there an ETF that holds multiple precious metals?

Is there a Fidelity precious metals ETF?

Is there a Fidelity precious metals ETF?

Key Data Points