VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) Performance
GDXJ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −12.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +5.8% total return
- 5 years
- +19.3% a year
- 10 years
- +10.8% a year
- Since first price
- +1.9% a year since 2009
GDXJ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | GDXJ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −18.1% | −18.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +1.8% | +1.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −18.6% | −18.6% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −12.7% | −12.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +5.8% | +3.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +205.7%+45.1%/yr | +189.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +142.0%+19.3%/yr | +123.6% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +177.8%+10.8%/yr | +137.6% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +13.9%+0.9%/yr | −13.3% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 11, 2009 | +38.2%+1.9%/yr | −2.4% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: GDXJ vs SPY
From Nov 11, 2009: GDXJ grew to $13,824, SPY to $93,177.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
GDXJ returns by calendar year
8 of 16 full years positive. Best 2025 (+172.3%), worst 2013 (−60.8%). 2026 is year to date.
GDXJ annual returns table
| Year | GDXJ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −12.7% | −41.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +172.3% | −21.6% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +15.7% | −21.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +7.1% | −29.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −14.5% | −48.8% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −21.2% | −35.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +30.4% | −50.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +40.4% | −18.8% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −11.0% | −26.8% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +8.2% | −29.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +73.0% | −42.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −19.1% | −39.2% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −22.4% | −52.8% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | −60.8% | −65.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | −16.8% | −40.8% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −34.0% | −42.1% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +67.0% | −23.0% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
GDXJ largest drawdowns
Now 36.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 2011 | −88.7% | Jan 19, 2016 | Jan 20, 2026 | 4.8 years | 14.8 years |
| Feb 27, 2026 | −41.3% | Jul 20, 2026 | not yet | 5 months | 8 months so far |
| Dec 2, 2009 | −25.2% | Feb 4, 2010 | May 11, 2010 | 2 months | 5 months |
| Jan 28, 2026 | −19.4% | Feb 5, 2026 | Feb 26, 2026 | 8 days | 29 days |
| Dec 6, 2010 | −18.3% | Jan 25, 2011 | Apr 5, 2011 | 50 days | 4 months |
| May 12, 2010 | −18.3% | May 20, 2010 | Sep 1, 2010 | 8 days | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
GDXJ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +55.2% | +26.3% | +11.6% | +2.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 44.1% | 41.1% | 39.2% | 42.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.12 | 0.68 | 0.41 | 0.23 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.26 | 1.24 | 0.73 | 0.37 |
| Best month | +34.1% | +34.1% | +43.6% | +43.6% |
| Worst month | −23.1% | −23.1% | −23.1% | −27.2% |
| Best 12 months | +228.4% | +228.4% | +228.4% | +228.4% |
| Worst 12 months | +15.7% | −30.5% | −30.5% | −60.9% |
| Positive months | 61% | 57% | 48% | 48% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.39 | 0.87 | 0.91 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.11 | 0.33 | 0.36 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
GDXJ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 192 | −60.9% | −1.8% | +228.4% | 48% |
| 3-year (a year) | 168 | −40.8% | +1.6% | +69.7% | 53% |
| 5-year (a year) | 144 | −33.0% | +2.6% | +29.9% | 58% |
| 10-year (a year) | 84 | −10.1% | −1.6% | +22.5% | 44% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
GDXJ performance overview
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) returned +5.8% over the past year and +10.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +1.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $13,824. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −88.7%, from Apr 8, 2011 to Jan 19, 2016, and it took 10.0 years to get back to the old high. GDXJ finished 8 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+172.3%) and the worst 2013 (−60.8%). Volatility has been 42.0% a year.
Related: GDXJ chart, GDXJ holdings, GDXJ dividends. See the GDXJ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
GDXJ performance FAQ
What is the GDXJ return over the past year?
GDXJ returned +5.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 3.4%.
What is the average annual return of GDXJ?
GDXJ has returned +19.3% a year over 5 years, +10.8% a year over 10 years, +1.9% a year since November 11, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in GDXJ be worth?
$10,000 invested in GDXJ at its first recorded close on November 11, 2009 would be worth about $13,824 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for GDXJ?
The worst calendar year was 2013, with a total return of −60.8%. The best was 2025 at +172.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of GDXJ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −88.7% between April 8, 2011 and January 19, 2016. It recovered to the old high on January 20, 2026, 10.0 years after the bottom.
How volatile is GDXJ?
Over the past 3 years GDXJ had an annualized volatility of 44.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.12 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).