The investment seeks investment results that generally correspond (before fees and expenses) to the total return performance of the Nasdaq Junior Silver Miners™ Index... Show more
The Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) is a passively managed exchange-traded fund that seeks to track the performance of the Nasdaq Junior Silver Miners Index. The index is composed of small- and mid-cap companies engaged primarily in silver mining and exploration, with an emphasis on pure-play firms that derive a majority of their revenue from silver-related activities. The fund holds approximately 65 to 70 securities, with a top-ten concentration of roughly 55% of net assets, creating a portfolio that is both diversified across the junior mining space and meaningfully exposed to its largest constituents.
The largest holdings include Hecla Mining (HL) at approximately 10%, First Majestic Silver (AG) at roughly 9.6%, Boliden AB at 5.3%, SSR Mining (SSRM) at 5.1%, KGHM Polska Miedz at 5.0%, Compañía de Minas Buenaventura (BVN) at 4.7%, and Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) at 4.5%. Geographically, Canadian-domiciled issuers account for more than 50% of the portfolio, followed by U.S.-listed companies at roughly 25%, with additional exposure to Sweden, Poland, Peru, and Mexico. The fund's expense ratio is 0.69%, and total net assets stand near $3.4 billion.
Because junior miners carry high operational and financial leverage relative to the underlying commodity, SILJ tends to exhibit amplified sensitivity to silver prices. This high-beta characteristic explains much of the fund's sharp 30-day rebound: when silver rallies, the earnings outlook for smaller producers improves disproportionately, driving outsized share price gains across the portfolio.
Over the last 30 days, SILJ has climbed approximately 12%, recovering from a closing price near $24.47 on July 8 to approximately $27.48 by August 6. The rebound was not linear; the fund experienced sharp daily moves, including a particularly strong surge in the first week of August when silver broke decisively above the $60-per-ounce threshold for the first time since late June. The rally was concentrated and momentum-driven, with significant volume accompanying the upward moves.
Looking at the broader quarterly picture, SILJ remains approximately 11% lower compared with its closing level of $31.04 in early May. The three-month period was characterized by a pronounced drawdown through June and early July, followed by stabilization and the current recovery. The quarterly decline reflects a challenging environment that preceded the recent upturn, including the lingering effects of elevated oil prices tied to U.S.-Iran tensions and a Federal Reserve policy stance that kept upward pressure on real yields (the return on bonds after subtracting inflation) through much of the spring and early summer.
The 30-day surge in SILJ is almost entirely attributable to a sharp recovery in silver prices and the high-beta nature of the junior mining companies the fund holds. Several interrelated catalysts converged in late July and early August to ignite the move.
First, a weaker-than-expected ADP private payrolls report for July showed the U.S. economy added only 44,000 private-sector jobs, well below consensus estimates. The soft labor market reading caused traders to scale back expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in September, with implied probability dropping from roughly 67% to 57% in a single session. Lower rate expectations translated into a weaker U.S. dollar and declining Treasury yields, both of which are structurally supportive for precious metals priced in dollars.
Second, progress in diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran raised hopes for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, sending crude oil prices sharply lower. The resulting decline in energy costs eased inflation concerns and further reduced the urgency for additional monetary tightening. For silver, which derives roughly 58% of its annual demand from industrial applications, the combination of lower rate expectations and a still-functioning manufacturing economy created a "Goldilocks" environment.
Third, positioning dynamics amplified the rally. According to CFTC data, managed fund net long positions in silver futures were near the 3rd percentile of their two-year range just before the move began, meaning institutional investors were exceptionally underweight silver. As prices broke through key technical levels, systematic strategies—including commodity trading advisors (CTAs)—were forced to cover short positions and rebuild long exposure, adding mechanical buying pressure. Total open interest in silver futures increased by approximately $24 billion during the rally, with the largest single-day inflows occurring near the price highs, consistent with momentum-chasing behavior.
Top SILJ holdings reflected these dynamics. Hecla Mining (HL) and First Majestic Silver (AG), which together constitute roughly 20% of the fund, each benefited disproportionately from rising silver prices given their high operational leverage and pure-play silver exposure.
Over the last quarter, SILJ declined approximately 11%, reflecting a broader correction across the precious metals complex. After gold reached an all-time high of roughly $5,589 per ounce in late January 2026 and silver surged above $110, both metals entered a prolonged pullback. The U.S.-Iran conflict that escalated in February drove oil prices sharply higher, which in turn raised inflation expectations and pushed the Federal Reserve toward a more hawkish posture. Rising real yields throughout the spring created persistent headwinds for non-yielding assets like gold and silver, and mining equities sold off in sympathy.
The junior mining segment underperformed the physical metal during this period, as higher energy costs and persistent labor inflation squeezed operating margins across the sector. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) for silver producers remained elevated, compressing the profit leverage that makes junior miners attractive during bull markets. Institutional flows into precious metals ETFs were mixed during the quarter, with some rotation into physical metal funds and away from mining equities, reflecting a more cautious stance toward operational risk.
The quarterly decline set the stage for the sharp 30-day rebound: by mid-July, silver prices had fallen to levels that left institutional positioning extremely light, creating the conditions for the short-covering rally and momentum-driven surge that followed in early August.
Identifying breakouts, trend reversals, and high-conviction setups across thousands of securities is a challenge even for experienced investors. Tickeron's AI Screener is an AI-powered stock and ETF discovery platform designed to streamline that process. The tool allows users to scan the entire market using a wide range of criteria including technical indicators, fundamental metrics, volatility measures, AI-generated trading signals, price pattern recognition, and industry-level filters. Rather than manually reviewing charts one by one, investors can surface securities that match specific performance, momentum, or valuation profiles in seconds. For those seeking to identify emerging opportunities in sectors such as precious metals mining or beyond, the AI Screener offers a data-driven approach to narrowing the universe of investable ideas.
The near-term trajectory of SILJ will depend heavily on whether silver can sustain its move above the $62-per-ounce level and whether the macroeconomic conditions that enabled the rally remain intact. Several factors warrant close attention.
The U.S. dollar and interest rate outlook remain the dominant macro variables. If upcoming nonfarm payrolls data and inflation readings continue to suggest a cooling economy, the Federal Reserve may hold rates steady or even signal cuts, which would be supportive for precious metals. Conversely, any upside surprise in employment or inflation could revive rate-hike expectations and pressure silver and SILJ.
Geopolitical developments, particularly the status of U.S.-Iran negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, will continue to influence both energy prices and broader risk appetite. A successful diplomatic resolution would likely sustain lower oil prices and reduce inflation fears, while a breakdown could trigger a risk-off move that might weigh on silver and mining equities alike.
The physical silver market also merits monitoring. Despite the futures rally, three-month silver lease rates declined during the move, indicating that physical demand has not yet tightened meaningfully. For the rally to evolve from a positioning-driven squeeze into a durable trend, industrial demand—particularly from solar energy, electronics, and data center construction—will need to show renewed strength.
On the equity side, investors should watch the earnings trajectory of SILJ's largest holdings. Junior miners with lower all-in sustaining costs and stronger balance sheets are better positioned to convert higher silver prices into free cash flow (FCF) and margin expansion. Companies carrying elevated debt loads or facing production challenges may lag even if silver continues to rise. Capital flows into the precious metals mining ETF category will also be an important signal of whether the recent rotation into mining equities has staying power.
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for SILJ turned positive on July 21, 2026. Looking at past instances where SILJ's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in of 53 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on July 30, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on SILJ as a result. In of 80 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
SILJ moved above its 50-day moving average on August 05, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
The 10-day moving average for SILJ crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on August 11, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In of 15 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
Following a 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where SILJ advanced for three days, in of 307 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The RSI Indicator demonstrates that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 3 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 5 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
The 50-day moving average for SILJ moved below the 200-day moving average on July 09, 2026. This could be a long-term bearish signal for the stock as the stock shifts to an downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where SILJ declined for three days, the price rose further in of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are .
SILJ broke above its upper Bollinger Band on August 07, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Aroon Indicator for SILJ entered a downward trend on July 28, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
Category PreciousMetals