iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING)

The S&P 500 has served as an excellent benchmark for the state of U.S.

The S&P 500 has served as an excellent benchmark for the state of U.S.

The iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF has outperformed peers, but long-term fundamentals remain weak. Top holdings show erratic free cash flows and poor historical share price performance. RING trades at a ~24x P/E despite exposure to cyclical, capital-intensive, and low-quality businesses.

In 2025, the best-performing ETF themes include gold and silver mining (SLVP, RING), bitcoin miners (WGMI), uranium (URA) and defense (EUAD, SHLD).

Gold surged to a record $3,700/oz after the Fed's “risk management cut,” reinforcing its role as a safe haven and boosting miners' profitability. RING advanced more than 34% since July, far outperforming the S&P 500, as mining companies converted higher gold prices into amplified margins, cash generation, and stronger balance sheets. With 55 holdings and 66.7% concentrated in top miners like Newmont, Agnico Eagle, and Barrick, RING offers global exposure, strong liquidity, and competitive costs in a capital-intensive sector.

It may not be the end of the quarter yet, but we have made it through summer, and that seems like a good checkpoint to evaluate the top ETF investment themes YTD. Let's take a moment to look in this year's thematic ETF rearview mirror.

RING surged to a 52-week high, fueled by rising gold prices, Fed rate-cut hopes, and safe-haven demand.

RING hit a 52-week high with a 73.8% surge, thanks to gold demand and global de-dollarization trends.

The Global Gold Miners ETF offers amplified exposure to rising gold prices, capturing upside through top mining companies that can convert each extra dollar of gold into significantly higher operating. It provides global diversification with high-quality miners, including leaders from North America, Africa, and Asia, helping to reduce geopolitical and operational risks while maintaining strong sector exposure. The fund is designed for efficient growth participation, with low fees, strong liquidity, and a focused portfolio where nearly 70% of assets are allocated to 10 proven industry leaders.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them. Safe-haven investors are still jumping into gold despite the precious metal’s recent pullback. But macro conditions remain primed for gold to continue its incredible run. For one, the U.S. dollar is still showing signs of weakness, down roughly 10% over the past six months. Second, there’s still plenty of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, with the ongoing trade war as well as the war between Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Iran. Third, central banks are still buying, on track to buy 1,000 metric tons of gold this year. So for gold bugs looking to get exposure through equities, 24/7 Wall St. conducted research to find five gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are worth of your consideration. Key Points in This Article: Analysts believe the price of gold could reach $4,000 per troy ounce by the middle of 2026. These gold ETFs allow you get a piece of the rally without owning the physical metal. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; get started by clicking here. (Sponsor) Gold’s Outlook China’s central bank, for example, added to its reserves for the seventh straight month, rising to 73.83 million fine troy ounces at the end of May from 73.77 million in April. Plus, Goldman Sachs says gold could rally to $3,700 by the end of 2025, and to $4,000 by the middle of 2026. Even UBS analysts say gold could rally to $3,500 by December. According to analysts at JPMorgan, “The bank now expects gold prices to reach an average of $3,675/oz by 4Q25, on the way towards above $4,000/oz by 2Q26, with risks skewed towards an earlier overshoot of these forecasts if demand surpasses its expectations,” as reported by Reuters. One of the best ways to cash in on those soaring gold prices is with these ETFs. Not only do they allow you to diversify, but they also allow you to do it with less capital. Here are five you may want to dig into. VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF One of the best ways to diversify at less cost is with an ETF, such as the VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: GDX). Not only can you gain access to some of the biggest gold stocks in the world, but you can do so at less cost. With an expense ratio of 0.51%, the ETF holds positions in Newmont Corp., Barrick Gold, Franco-Nevada, Agnico Eagle Mines, Gold Fields, and Wheaton Precious Metals, to name a few. We should also note that shares of mining stocks often outperform the price of gold. That’s because higher gold prices can result in increased profit margins and free cash flow for gold miners. In addition, top gold miners often have limited exposure to riskier mining projects. Last trading at $51.92, we’d like to see the GDX ETF rally to $60 initially. Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF With an expense ratio of 0.5%, the Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: SGDJ) seeks investment results that correspond to the performance of its underlying index, the Solactive Junior Gold Miners Custom Factors Index. Some of its top holdings include Lundin Gold Inc., Seabridge Gold, Equinox Gold, Victoria Gold, Westgold Resources, Osisko Mining, K92 Mining Inc., Novagold Resources, Regis Resources, New Gold Inc., Sabina Gold & Silver, Argonaut Gold, Centerra Gold, Coeur Mining, Skeena Resources, and K92 Mining to name a few. From its last traded price of $48.93, we’d like to see the SGDJ ETF initially test $55. Global X Gold Explorers ETF With an expense ratio of 0.65%, the Global X Explorers ETF (NYSEARCA: GOEX) offers exposure to companies involved in the exploration of gold deposits. Some of its 51 holdings include Coeur Mining, Lundin Gold, Equinox Gold, Eldorado Gold, New Gold, Hecla Mining, and Alamos Gold, to name a few. Even after rallying from a 2025 low of about $29.94 to $45.06, there’s still plenty of upside opportunity in the GOEX ETF. From $45.06, we’d like to see the ETF initially test $52 a share. VanEck Merk Gold ETF With an expense ratio of 0.25%, the VanEck Merk Gold ETF (NYSEARCA: OUNZ) “holds gold bullion in the form of allocated London Bars. It differentiates itself by providing investors with the option to take physical delivery of gold bullion in exchange for their shares,” as noted by VanEck.com. Since its 2025 low of about $25, the OUNZ ETF rallied to a recent high of $32.12. From here, we’d like to see it initially test $40 a share, which is doable with gold’s unstoppable rally. iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF There’s also the iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (NASDAQ: RING). With an expense ratio of 0.39%, the RING ETF offers exposure to global companies involved in gold mining. Some of its 41 holdings include Newmont, Agnico Eagle Mines, Wheaton Precious Metals, Barrick Mining, Gold Fields, and Kinross Gold, to name just a few. From its 2025 low of about $28, the iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF rallied to a recent high of $43.54. From here, we’d like to see the ETF initially test $50 a share. Even better, as we wait for the RING ETF to appreciate, we can also collect its dividends. On June 20, it paid out a dividend of $0.23. On December 20, it paid $0.21. The post The 5 Best ETFs to Cash in on Soaring Gold Prices appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Gold has been on a powerful upward trajectory this year, fueled by strong safe-haven demand amid Trump's tariff chaos and escalating geopolitical tensions, weakening U.S. dollar and growing expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. The yellow metal has posted monthly gains for five straight months as of May, its longest run since 2017.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is a cornerstone investment for most portfolios, offering broad exposure to the 500 largest U.S. companies across diverse sectors like technology, healthcare, and finance. 24/7 Wall St. Insights: The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a solid, all-around choice for investors to own as it mimics the S&P 500 index that has returned 10% annually for decades. SPY’s focus on mega-cap stocks, particularly in the tech sector, heightens risk in today’s volatile markets. Investors looking for greater diversification with long-term capital appreciation potential can find ETFs with unique advantages to take them beyond just the biggest of the big stocks. Nvidia made early investors rich, but there is a new class of ‘Next Nvidia Stocks’ that could be even better. Click here to learn more. With a low expense ratio and a historical annualized return of 10% over decades, SPY provides stability, liquidity, and consistent growth, making it ideal for long-term wealth-building. Its diversification mitigates individual stock risk, while tracking the S&P 500 ensures alignment with the U.S. economy’s overall performance. For novice and seasoned investors alike, SPY’s simplicity and reliability make it a go-to choice in volatile markets. However, SPY’s broad-market approach may not suffice for those seeking higher growth or targeted exposure. Its heavy weighting toward mega-cap tech stocks can limit upside in emerging sectors. Investors may find greater potential in specialized ETFs that offer superior historical performance and diversification across high-growth industries, capturing opportunities SPY might miss. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) Think of the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:RSP) as the same, but different alternative to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. Unlike SPY, which is market-cap weighted and heavily skewed toward mega-cap tech stocks (over 30% of its portfolio are tech behemoths), RSP equally weights all 500 S&P 500 companies, ensuring no single stock dominates. This approach, with a 14.1% five-year annualized return, often outperforms SPY during periods when smaller or mid-cap firms lead, as expected amid 2025’s domestic growth policies. RSP’s 0.20% expense ratio, while higher than SPY’s 0.09%, is justified by its balanced sector exposure. Industrial comprises almost 16% of the portfolio and financials almost 15%, while tech is less than 14%, helping reduce concentration risk. Year-to-date RSP is down 2.7%, but that’s better than the 4.7% drop by SPY, reflecting its resilience in volatile markets. By capturing broader market gains and mitigating tech-sector volatility, RSP offers stability and growth potential. For investors wary of SPY’s tech reliance, RSP’s diversified structure makes it a smarter choice for long-term outperformance. iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) The second alternative to SPY inventors should consider is the iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (NASDAQ:RING) as it offers unique diversification and growth potential by focusing on major gold mining companies like Newmont (NYSE:NEM) and Barrick Mining (NYSE:GOLD). With gold prices soaring to around $3,400 per ounce amid elevated inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, RING’s 54% year-to-date return far outpaces SPY’s decline. Its 0.39% expense ratio is reasonable for its specialized exposure while RING’s global portfolio mitigates U.S.-specific risks. It provides a safe-haven hedge against market volatility and tariff-driven disruptions that could impact SPY. While SPY offers stability, RING capitalizes on the precious metals rally, delivering higher upside in uncertain times. For investors seeking diversification and inflation protection, RING is a superior choice over SPY’s broader, tech-heavy exposure. Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) The final ETF alternative is Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE:VBK), another excellent alternative to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust or investors seeking higher growth in 2025. Unlike SPY, VBK targets dynamic small-cap growth firms in sectors like technology and healthcare. Liberty Media (NASDAQ:FWONK) and RB Global (NYSE:RBA) are its two largest holdings, but they account for less than 1% of the total each. With a 7.8% five-year annualized return, VBK can capitalize on domestic trends like infrastructure spending and reshoring, where small-caps often outperform. Small-cap stocks were hit hard by inflation and high-interest rates because they don’t have the same access to financial resources as their larger brethren do, their borrowing costs are higher, which hurt returns over the last few years. While the Federal Reserve may not cut rates at its next meeting, more cut are expected this year and over the next few years, providing a boost to the sector. VBK features Vanguard’s famed ultra-low costs, with a 0.07% expense ratio, enhancing returns. Its diversified portfolio of 579 holdings reduces individual stock risk while offering exposure to innovative, high-upside companies less represented in SPY. In a market favoring agile firms over mega-caps, VBK’s focus on small-cap growth provides superior potential. For investors seeking cost-efficiency and outperformance in a growth-driven economy, VBK is a smarter choice than SPY. The post I Switched from SPY to These 3 ETFs for a More Resilient Portfolio appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

RING's top holdings (NEM, AEM, GOLD) show stable EV/EBITDA and growth, but latent market imbalances raise doubts about maintaining alpha. RING tracks the MSCI ACWI Select Gold Miners Index, with a 0.39% fee and high concentration in top holdings, questioning its cost-effectiveness. Risks include volatile precious metal prices, production guidance, costs, and USD value, impacting future EBITDA and raising concerns about RING's stability.

Gold prices on a roller-coaster ride as trade fears lift safe-haven demand, while easing tensions and rising risk appetite affect the metal.

Retail investors have gone from being net sellers to net gold buyers, and their pace has been accelerating. Rising geopolitical tensions and growing animosity between Beijing and Washington may drive Chinese gold demand in the coming months. iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF provides solid exposure to the gold sector.

For investors seeking momentum, iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF RING is probably on the radar. The fund just hit a 52-week high and has moved up 53.4% from its 52-week low of $25.70 per share.