Silver's current price on Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Historical silver performance 

Silver generally isn't considered a strong growth investment. It has historically lagged behind other investment avenues, such as equities. Since 1921, silver's performance has been approximately 96% lower than that of the S&P 500. Consequently, an equivalent amount invested in silver and stocks at that time would now result in silver holdings being worth 96% less than stock holdings. 

Silver is valued for its steadiness and its capability to protect against rising prices. Frequently referred to as a “store of value,”, it generally maintains its buying power during inflationary periods. 

Silver's price fluctuations tend to be more pronounced than gold's, largely because of its significant industrial applications in areas like solar technology and medical equipment, while gold primarily functions as a secure investment during uncertain times.

What does “spot silver” mean? 

“Spot silver” refers to the live market rate at which silver can be bought or sold instantly. That said, real-world buyers usually pay a premium over spot for markups, shipping, insurance, and other fees. 

The current market price reflects immediate demand; a rising spot price indicates greater purchasing interest. 

Silver trading price spread 

The term “price spread” describes the difference between the buying (ask) and selling (bid) prices for silver. Here’s how those terms are defined. 

• Ask price: the cost to purchase silver. 
• Bid price: the amount you receive when you sell silver. 

A narrower spread indicates high demand. 

How to invest in silver 

Silver exposure can be achieved through physical ownership or via silver-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs let you own a stake in a fund that holds silver, sparing you storage and insurance responsibilities. 

Key silver investment options include: 

• Bullion bars and rounds. These are sold by weight and purity 
• Government-minted silver coins. Iconic examples include American Silver Eagles and Canada’s Silver Maple Leafs, which often trade at premiums for their rarity and backing. 
• Silver jewelry. Custom pieces that fetch prices above equal-purity bullion. 
• Silver mining equities. Stocks in companies extracting silver, offering a sort of indirect investment in silver. 

On exchanges, bullion and coins must meet a minimum 99.9% purity. Lower-purity silver generally falls into collectible or industrial categories. Our guide to the best silver IRA companies provide more information on how to shrewdly invest in silver (and other precious metals).

Silver investment timing 

Silver has surged nearly 25% in 2025, hitting its highest levels in over a decade. 

Deciding whether to invest now depends on your unique attitude toward the market. If inflation is top of mind, adding precious metals can be prudent. Or, if you foresee rising industrial applications—such as electronics—demand could potentially push prices even higher. 

Precious metals rates: 8:15 AM ET

Gold remains the benchmark metal, while platinum and palladium exhibit volatility patterns similar to silver due to smaller market caps. Gold’s larger market makes it comparatively stable.

The takeaway 

With economic volatility persistent in the current market, precious metals deserve at least a quick look. Silver’s 2025 performance has outshined gold’s, and many experts forecast the likelihood of seeing further upside, potentially pushing silver to record levels. 

Silver’s lower entry cost compared with gold also makes it an accessible hedge. Whether through physical bullion, ETFs, or mining stocks, you can position yourself to benefit from anticipated silver demand.

Frequently asked questions