Nickel ETFs
Nickel is a critical battery cathode material driving demand from EV manufacturing and electrification infrastructure.
This list covers all US-listed nickel-focused ETFs providing equity exposure to nickel miners and producers.
AUM figures are updated monthly. Click any row to expand fund details and top holdings.
| Fund | Ticker | AUM ▼ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sprott Nickel Miners ETFSprott |
NIKL | $72M | ||||
Sprott Nickel Miners ETFNIKL tracks the Nasdaq Sprott Nickel Miners Index, targeting companies deriving 50%+ revenue from nickel mining, exploration, development, or production. Nickel demand surges from battery manufacturing and electrification infrastructure. NIKL maintains 97.6% foreign allocation with 30 securities, focusing on pure-play nickel exposure. Fund Details
AUM$72M
Expense Ratio0.75%
Inception3/21/2023
ExchangeNasdaq
StructureETF
Top 5 Holdings
PT Aneka Tambang (ANTAM)13.15%
PT Merdeka Battery Materials11.56%
Nickel Industries11.48%
IGO Limited (IGOHF)7.95%
Talon Metals6.43%
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Latest Nickel Coverage From GSR
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Key Terms Full Glossary →
A transition metal used in high-energy-density battery cathodes (NMC and NCA chemistries), stainless steel, and specialty alloys. Class 1 (battery-grade) nickel is increasingly sought after as EV battery production scales globally.
High-purity nickel (99.8%+ Ni content) suitable for use in battery cathodes and other high-performance applications. Class 1 nickel is produced through refining processes such as electrolysis or carbonyl decomposition, and commands a premium over lower-grade Class 2 nickel used primarily in stainless steel production.
Nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) is a widely used lithium-ion battery cathode chemistry favoured for its high energy density and balanced performance. NMC variants include NMC 532, 622, and 811, with higher nickel ratios delivering greater energy density at the cost of thermal stability.
Whether an ETF provides exposure through equities (stocks of mining companies), futures contracts (commodity derivatives), physical holdings, or a mix. Equity ETFs hold shares in companies; futures-based ETFs hold derivative contracts on the underlying commodities.
The annual fee charged by an ETF to cover management, administration, and operational costs, expressed as a percentage of assets under management. A lower expense ratio means less drag on returns over time.
The total market value of all investments managed by an ETF. Higher AUM generally indicates greater liquidity, tighter bid-ask spreads, and lower trading costs for investors. AUM fluctuates with market prices and fund inflows or outflows.
FAQ
Nickel ETFs are exchange-traded funds that provide exposure to the nickel market, typically by investing in companies involved in nickel mining, exploration, development, or production. They offer investors a way to gain nickel exposure without buying individual mining stocks or physical nickel.
As of April 2026, there is 1 US-listed ETF focused specifically on nickel — the Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL). Additional nickel exposure is available through broader critical minerals and battery metals ETFs such as SETM, GMET, and IBAT.
Nickel is a key cathode material in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries using NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) and NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminium) chemistries. As EV production scales globally, demand for Class 1 battery-grade nickel is accelerating. Nickel is also essential for stainless steel used in renewable energy infrastructure.
NIKL tracks the Nasdaq Sprott Nickel Miners Index, which targets companies deriving at least 50% of their revenue from nickel mining, exploration, development, or production. The index holds approximately 30 securities with a heavy international allocation.
The Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL) has an expense ratio of 0.75%, meaning investors pay $7.50 annually per $1,000 invested to cover management and operational costs.