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Silver vs Nvidia (XAG vs NVDA): Returns, Risk & Volatility (2025)

Last updated: December 31, 2025

Gale Finance Team
Written by Gale Finance Team
Sid Kalla
Reviewed by Sid Kalla CFA Charterholder
TL;DR: In 2025, XAG returned +142.3% while NVDA returned +34.9%. XAG showed better risk-adjusted returns (Sharpe: 2.78). XAG was less volatile (31.6% vs 49.6%).

Analysis period: 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

XAG Total Return
+142.3%
NVDA Total Return
+34.9%

Relative Performance of XAG vs NVDA (Normalized to 100)

XAG NVDA

Normalized to 100 at start date for comparison

Key Takeaways

  • Total Return: XAG delivered a +142.3% total return, while NVDA returned +34.9% over the same period. XAG outperformed on total returns.
  • Risk-Adjusted Return (Sharpe Ratio): XAG had a higher Sharpe (2.78 vs 0.77), indicating better risk-adjusted performance.
  • Volatility (Annualized): NVDA was more volatile, with 49.6% annualized volatility, versus 31.6% for XAG.
  • Maximum Drawdown: XAG's maximum drawdown was -13.6%, while NVDA experienced a deeper drawdown of -36.9%.

Silver vs Nvidia Correlation

0.13 Average Correlation

Silver and Nvidia were weakly correlated in 2025. With a correlation of 0.13, these assets showed meaningful independence, offering diversification benefits when held together.

For portfolio construction, this weak correlation suggests that combining XAG and NVDA could reduce overall portfolio variance. However, correlations can increase during market stress.

Metric Metric Value
Current (30-day) 0.18
Average (full period) 0.13
Minimum -0.34
Maximum 0.60

Correlation measures how closely two assets move together. Values near +1 indicate strong co-movement, near 0 indicates independence, and negative values indicate inverse movement.

Investment Comparison

If you invested $10,000 in each asset on January 1, 2025:

XAG $24,227.536 +142.3%
NVDA $13,487.808 +34.9%

Difference: $10,739.728 (XAG ahead)

Silver and Nvidia: Risk Analysis

Silver experienced its maximum drawdown of -13.6% from 2025-03-27 to 2025-04-04. It has not yet recovered to its previous peak.

Nvidia experienced its maximum drawdown of -36.9% from 2025-01-06 to 2025-04-04. It has not yet recovered to its previous peak.

Smaller drawdowns and faster recoveries indicate lower downside risk and greater resilience during market stress.

Sharpe Ratio of XAG and NVDA

XAG Sharpe Ratio
2.78
NVDA Sharpe Ratio
0.77

Sharpe ratio measures return per unit of risk (volatility). A higher Sharpe indicates better risk-adjusted performance. XAG had a higher Sharpe (2.78 vs 0.77), indicating better risk-adjusted performance.

A Sharpe above 1.0 is generally considered good, above 2.0 is excellent. Negative Sharpe means the asset underperformed the risk-free rate. Calculated on each asset's full 365-day lookback of available prices and annualized using the asset calendar (365 for crypto, 252 trading days for equities/ETFs/metals).

Sortino Ratio of XAG and NVDA

XAG Sortino Ratio
3.80
NVDA Sortino Ratio
1.01

Sortino ratio measures return per unit of downside risk. Unlike Sharpe, it only penalizes negative volatility. XAG had better downside-adjusted returns.

A higher Sortino is better. It's particularly useful for assets with asymmetric volatility (big gains, smaller losses). Downside volatility: XAG 23.1% vs NVDA 37.9%. Calculated on each asset's full 365-day lookback of available prices and annualized using the asset calendar (365 for crypto, 252 trading days for equities/ETFs/metals).

Full Comparison of Silver vs. Nvidia (2025)

Metric XAG NVDA
Total Return +142.3% +34.9%
Annualized Volatility 31.6% 49.6%
Sharpe Ratio 2.78 0.77
Sortino Ratio 3.80 1.01
Max Drawdown -13.6% -36.9%
Avg Correlation to S&P 500 N/A N/A

Silver vs Nvidia: Frequently Asked Questions

Which had higher volatility: XAG or NVDA?

NVDA showed higher volatility at 49.6% annualized, compared to 31.6% for XAG During 2025. Higher volatility meant larger price swings in both directions.

Did XAG provide diversification when held with NVDA?

XAG and NVDA were weakly correlated in 2025, with an average correlation of 0.13. This weak correlation suggested meaningful diversification benefits when held together.

Which had better risk-adjusted returns: XAG or NVDA?

XAG showed better risk-adjusted performance with a Sharpe ratio of 2.78 versus NVDA's 0.77 During 2025.

Could XAG and NVDA have been combined in a portfolio?

Yes, though allocation sizing mattered. Their weak correlation could have meaningfully reduced overall portfolio variance. NVDA's higher volatility (49.6%) meant even small allocations can materially impact overall portfolio risk.