We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Clean Energy & Industrial Demand to Drive Long-Term Silver ETF Growth
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Clean energy demand and AI infrastructure expansion are emerging as major tailwinds for silver.
Silver continues to climb, adding about 20.55% YTD and 164% over the past year.
ETFs like SLV, SIVR and SILJ can help capture silver's robust demand potential.
Often regarded as both a precious and industrial metal, silver plays a vital role in modern technology and clean energy applications. Widely used in applications ranging from solar panels, EVs to semiconductors, silver benefits from unique properties like superior conductivity, durability and resistance to corrosion, making it nearly impossible to substitute. These structural demand drivers continue to strengthen silver’s long-term growth outlook and reinforce investor interest in the metal.
Silver has gained about 20.55% year to date and nearly 164.27% over the past year, significantly outperforming gold, which has gained 8.50% year to date and 44.34% over the past year. Silver has added about 14% over the past month, reflecting strong bullish momentum, driven by rising industrial demand, clean energy expansion and growing investor interest.
According to the Silver Institute, from medical equipment to almost every computer, mobile phones, automobiles, household appliances, solar power systems, EV applications and advanced supercomputers used in AI, silver is an indispensable component across multiple industries.
Clean Energy Boom Strengthens Silver’s Bullish Outlook
The transition toward clean and renewable energy is increasingly being accelerated by structural tailwinds such as energy security, electrification and expanding AI-driven infrastructure, supporting sustained long-term investment in the sector. Meanwhile, disruptions in fossil fuel markets and rising energy security concerns are expected to further accelerate global clean energy investments, positioning silver as a key beneficiary due to its expanding role across renewable energy applications.
Per the Silver Institute, the metal plays a crucial role in solar energy production, particularly in photovoltaic (PV) cells. Silver’s expanding use in solar applications is becoming an increasingly important driver of long-term demand growth for the metal.
As per Benzinga, as quoted on Yahoo Finance, industrial applications now account for roughly 60% of global silver consumption, with solar PV panels alone projected to consume nearly 120–125 million ounces of silver in 2026. Rising demand from AI hardware, electric vehicles, power electronics and high-density data centers is further strengthening silver’s industrial demand outlook.
Additionally, the energy market turmoil stemming from the Middle East conflict is reinforcing the global focus on energy security and independence. As economies and consumers increasingly prioritize the shift toward EVs and alternative energy solutions, the trend is expected to become more structural over the long term, providing another strong tailwind for silver demand.
AI Infrastructure Boom Adds Momentum to Silver Demand
Silver is starting to attract renewed attention as investors look beyond safe-haven demand and focus on metals benefiting from the global AI and infrastructure expansion, as per Yahoo Finance. Silver has significant industrial applications in electronics, electrical systems and semiconductor-related technologies, positioning it to benefit from rising hard-infrastructure demand.
According to CNBC, silver appears to be attracting stronger retail investor interest amid the AI-driven industrial boom. Silver is also widely used for its superior thermal conductivity and electrical applications in data centers, which are becoming increasingly critical in supporting rising AI-related demand.
Per the abovementioned CNBC article, investor sentiment toward silver ETFs has strengthened considerably, with trading activity in iShares Silver Trust (SLV - Free Report) pointing to growing bullishness. Options positioning remained heavily call-driven, as call volumes more than doubled puts and over 90,000 calls were bought compared with roughly 31,000 puts.
Silver ETFs to Explore
Investors should adopt a long-term approach to silver investing, looking beyond any potential short-term price volatility and focusing on the metal’s strong bullish fundamentals driven by rising industrial usage, the renewable energy transition and growing clean energy demand.
Below, we have highlighted a few funds in which investors can increase their allocation to gain greater exposure to silver.
iShares Silver Trust (SLV - Free Report) has gained 1.15% over the past month. SLV has added 127.14% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.50%.
abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR - Free Report) has gained 1.17% over the past month. SIVR has added 127.55% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.30%.
Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL - Free Report) has fallen 0.72% over the past month. SIL has added 120.82% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.65%.
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ - Free Report) has fallen 1.07% over the past month. SILJ has added 143.35% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.69%.
iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP - Free Report) has fallen 0.19% over the past month. SLVP has added 135.52% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.39%.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Shutterstock
Clean Energy & Industrial Demand to Drive Long-Term Silver ETF Growth
Key Takeaways
Often regarded as both a precious and industrial metal, silver plays a vital role in modern technology and clean energy applications. Widely used in applications ranging from solar panels, EVs to semiconductors, silver benefits from unique properties like superior conductivity, durability and resistance to corrosion, making it nearly impossible to substitute. These structural demand drivers continue to strengthen silver’s long-term growth outlook and reinforce investor interest in the metal.
Silver has gained about 20.55% year to date and nearly 164.27% over the past year, significantly outperforming gold, which has gained 8.50% year to date and 44.34% over the past year. Silver has added about 14% over the past month, reflecting strong bullish momentum, driven by rising industrial demand, clean energy expansion and growing investor interest.
According to the Silver Institute, from medical equipment to almost every computer, mobile phones, automobiles, household appliances, solar power systems, EV applications and advanced supercomputers used in AI, silver is an indispensable component across multiple industries.
Clean Energy Boom Strengthens Silver’s Bullish Outlook
The transition toward clean and renewable energy is increasingly being accelerated by structural tailwinds such as energy security, electrification and expanding AI-driven infrastructure, supporting sustained long-term investment in the sector. Meanwhile, disruptions in fossil fuel markets and rising energy security concerns are expected to further accelerate global clean energy investments, positioning silver as a key beneficiary due to its expanding role across renewable energy applications.
Per the Silver Institute, the metal plays a crucial role in solar energy production, particularly in photovoltaic (PV) cells. Silver’s expanding use in solar applications is becoming an increasingly important driver of long-term demand growth for the metal.
As per Benzinga, as quoted on Yahoo Finance, industrial applications now account for roughly 60% of global silver consumption, with solar PV panels alone projected to consume nearly 120–125 million ounces of silver in 2026. Rising demand from AI hardware, electric vehicles, power electronics and high-density data centers is further strengthening silver’s industrial demand outlook.
Additionally, the energy market turmoil stemming from the Middle East conflict is reinforcing the global focus on energy security and independence. As economies and consumers increasingly prioritize the shift toward EVs and alternative energy solutions, the trend is expected to become more structural over the long term, providing another strong tailwind for silver demand.
AI Infrastructure Boom Adds Momentum to Silver Demand
Silver is starting to attract renewed attention as investors look beyond safe-haven demand and focus on metals benefiting from the global AI and infrastructure expansion, as per Yahoo Finance. Silver has significant industrial applications in electronics, electrical systems and semiconductor-related technologies, positioning it to benefit from rising hard-infrastructure demand.
According to CNBC, silver appears to be attracting stronger retail investor interest amid the AI-driven industrial boom. Silver is also widely used for its superior thermal conductivity and electrical applications in data centers, which are becoming increasingly critical in supporting rising AI-related demand.
Per the abovementioned CNBC article, investor sentiment toward silver ETFs has strengthened considerably, with trading activity in iShares Silver Trust (SLV - Free Report) pointing to growing bullishness. Options positioning remained heavily call-driven, as call volumes more than doubled puts and over 90,000 calls were bought compared with roughly 31,000 puts.
Silver ETFs to Explore
Investors should adopt a long-term approach to silver investing, looking beyond any potential short-term price volatility and focusing on the metal’s strong bullish fundamentals driven by rising industrial usage, the renewable energy transition and growing clean energy demand.
Below, we have highlighted a few funds in which investors can increase their allocation to gain greater exposure to silver.
iShares Silver Trust (SLV - Free Report) has gained 1.15% over the past month. SLV has added 127.14% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.50%.
abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR - Free Report) has gained 1.17% over the past month. SIVR has added 127.55% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.30%.
Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL - Free Report) has fallen 0.72% over the past month. SIL has added 120.82% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.65%.
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ - Free Report) has fallen 1.07% over the past month. SILJ has added 143.35% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.69%.
iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners ETF (SLVP - Free Report) has fallen 0.19% over the past month. SLVP has added 135.52% over the past year and charges an annual fee of 0.39%.