GDX vs GDXJ Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Compare VanEck Gold Miners ETF and VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF by company size and development stage, leverage to gold price moves, volatility, geographic concentration, and which gold mining ETF best matches your risk tolerance and gold thesis.
Use this GDX vs GDXJ comparison to evaluate the key differences across valuation, growth, profitability, and risk before making an investment decision.
GDX holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. GDXJ has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+46.68% vs +42.09% for GDX).
| Metric | GDX | GDXJ |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 54.0 | 51.0 |
| Latest close | $75.23 | $97.80 |
| 1M return | +0.86% | +1.79% |
| 6M return | -28.47% | -31.17% |
| 1Y return | +42.09% | +46.68% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | GDX | GDXJ |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $14.31K (+43.1%) started 2025-07-24 | $14.99K (+49.9%) started 2025-07-24 |
| 5Y ago | $25.84K (+158.4%) started 2021-07-26 | $25.9K (+159.0%) started 2021-07-26 |
| 10Y ago | $33.11K (+231.1%) started 2016-07-25 | $30.83K (+208.3%) started 2016-07-25 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | GDX | GDXJ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.51% | 0.52% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $22.75B | $7.08B |
| Dividend yield | 0.84% | 2.70% |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | 13.21 |
| Beta | 0.68 | 0.88 |
| 52-week change | 42.09% | 46.68% |
| Metric | GDX | GDXJ |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | +42.09% | +46.68% |
| 6M return | -28.47% | -31.17% |
| 1M return | +0.86% | +1.79% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.88 | 0.91 |
| Beta | 0.68 | 0.88 |
| Dividend yield | 0.84% | 2.70% |
| 5Y CAGR | +19.23% | +19.06% |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | GDX | GDXJ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +42.09% | +46.68% |
| CAGR | +42.12% | +46.72% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.88 | 0.91 | |
| Max drawdown | 38.93% | 41.32% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.76% | 13.63% | |
| Max wkly drop | 16.52% | 17.19% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +140.68% | +138.94% |
| CAGR | +19.23% | +19.06% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.54 | 0.52 | |
| Max drawdown | 46.51% | 48.79% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.76% | 13.63% | |
| Max wkly drop | 16.52% | 17.19% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +199.16% | +161.46% |
| CAGR | +11.59% | +10.09% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.36 | 0.34 | |
| Max drawdown | 49.79% | 57.78% | |
| Max daily drop | 22.82% | 26.27% | |
| Max wkly drop | 35.40% | 44.74% |
| Category | GDX | GDXJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | VanEck Gold Miners ETF | VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.51% | 0.52% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $22.75B | $7.08B |
| Dividend yield | 0.84% | 2.70% |
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