What Is the URA ETF? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
The Global X Uranium ETF (URA) is a thematic ETF that diversifies across uranium and nuclear-related stocks. It continues to draw attention as the global nuclear revival outlook takes hold, and comparing its fees and holdings with similar thematic ETFs such as URNM and NLR is the key benchmark for an investment decision.
What Is the Global X Uranium ETF?
This thematic ETF tracks the Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Index, providing diversified exposure to uranium mining, concentrate, and enrichment companies as well as businesses across nuclear power generation.
Amid the nuclear revival and the energy transition, it suits investors who want to diversify across the uranium and nuclear supply chain theme.
It is a passively managed (index-tracking) ETF operated by Global X.
How Do You Invest in the Global X Uranium ETF?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracking Index | Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Index |
| Management Style | Passive (index tracking) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Semiannual |
| Dividend Frequency | Irregular dividends (1 to 2 times per year) |
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% |
The fund holds uranium mining, concentrate, and enrichment companies, along with companies in the nuclear power value chain, at their index weights, tracking the performance of the uranium and nuclear theme as a whole. Holdings are reconstituted regularly according to the index committee's criteria.
- Among the largest and most liquid of the uranium thematic ETFs
- Broad value chain exposure, from mining stocks to small modular reactor-related stocks
Global X Uranium ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $4.7B, and the expense ratio is 0.69% per year.
Compared with other mineral and resource thematic ETFs, it is concentrated in the narrow theme of uranium and nuclear power, so volatility tends to be high.
Global X Uranium ETF Performance and Trends
As discussions of nuclear plant restarts and new construction have grown, uranium-related stocks as a group have continued to draw market attention. In the short term, volatility tends to be high depending on the uranium spot price and related news.
Thematic inflows tend to increase whenever discussions of the energy transition and rising power demand come to the fore, and the fund generally shows the fund-flow volatility typical of commodity thematic ETFs.
Global X Uranium ETF Strengths and Weaknesses
Its strength is concentrated exposure to the nuclear revival theme, while its weakness is high volatility, a consequence of its narrow industry theme.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Global X Uranium ETF Alternative ETFs and Related Products
ETFs shown alongside it in the table, such as GDX, GDXJ, SIL, SILJ, and COPX, are themed on mining stocks for other metals like gold, silver, and copper. They share the broad framework of the commodity mining industry but follow price cycles different from uranium. Within the same uranium and nuclear theme, you can also consider alternatives such as URNM, which narrows the focus further to mining stocks, URNJ, which centers on small-cap miners, and NLR, which broadens exposure to include nuclear power generation and utilities.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Gold Miners ETF | $79.15 | +2.7% | $23.8B | 0.51% | 0.8% | +9.8% | |
| VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | $97.16 | +2.3% | $7.1B | 0.52% | 2.73% | +3.7% | |
| Global X Copper Miners ETF | $72.84 | +1.2% | $6.3B | 0.65% | 2.65% | +17.9% | |
| Global X Silver Miners ETF | $72.32 | +1.5% | $3.7B | 0.65% | 1.4% | +8.7% | |
| Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF | $22.78 | +1.3% | $2.9B | 0.69% | 2.43% | +0.8% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCJ | Cameco Corp | 0.45% | $73.38 | -4.6% | $32.0B | 111.4 | 0.24% |
| Oklo Inc | 0.13% | $23.52 | -6.8% | $4.4B | - | - | |
| Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust | 0.11% | $37.65 | +2.2% | $6.4B | - | - | |
| NexGen Energy Ltd | 0.12% | $7.89 | -4.6% | $5.3B | - | - | |
| Uranium Energy Corp | 0.11% | $7.51 | -2.6% | $3.7B | - | - |
Global X Uranium ETF Investor Checkpoints
Here are the points to review before investing in URA. Given its high thematic concentration, it is worth checking volatility and policy risk in advance, and also examining its value chain composition and how it differs from similar thematic ETFs.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense Ratio | Check cumulative costs over a long holding period | Average for thematic ETFs |
| ⚛️ Thematic Concentration | Whether it is skewed toward the single uranium and nuclear theme | High thematic concentration |
| 📊 Volatility | Sensitivity to commodity prices and policy news | High volatility persists |
| 🔄 Value Chain Composition | Weighting of mining stocks versus nuclear-related stocks | Diversified across the value chain |
Swings in the uranium spot price and changes in national nuclear policy are the main drivers of short-term volatility. As a thematic concentrated ETF, it can suffer larger losses when the related industry declines across the board.
It is a leading thematic investment vehicle for the nuclear revival and the uranium supply chain. If you want to narrow the weighting toward mining stocks, you can also consider URNM, and if you want to broaden toward power generation and utilities, NLR.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of July 1, 2026.