The best nickel ETFs to buy in 2026 are the Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL), the only U.S.-listed pure-play nickel fund, plus diversified mining funds like the iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) and the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME), and battery-metal baskets such as the Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (BATT) and Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT). Truly pure nickel exposure is rare: the old iPath nickel ETN (JJN) was closed in 2023, and most funds reach nickel through miners or battery-metal indexes. This guide compares each option, its expense ratio, and who it suits. This is educational information, not financial advice.
Last updated July 2026 with current fund names, expense ratios, and nickel-market data.
Best nickel ETFs in 2026 at a glance
| Fund (ticker) | Type of nickel exposure | Expense ratio | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL) | Pure-play nickel miners | 0.75% | Direct, focused nickel exposure |
| iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) | Diversified global miners | 0.39% | Low-cost, broad miner exposure |
| SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) | Equal-weight U.S. metals & mining | 0.35% | Cheapest, U.S.-focused basket |
| Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (BATT) | Battery metals (incl. nickel) | 0.59% | EV-battery-metal theme |
| Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT) | Lithium/battery value chain | 0.75% | Broad battery theme (minor nickel) |
| VanEck Copper and Electrification Metals ETF (EMET, formerly GMET) | Electrification metals | ~0.61% | Copper-led critical-metals mix |
What is the best nickel ETF to buy in 2026?
For direct nickel exposure, the Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL) is the standout choice because it is the only U.S.-listed fund built specifically around nickel miners. Everything else on this list touches nickel through a wider basket of miners or battery metals, so your pick depends on how concentrated you want to be and how much cost matters.
1. Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL) — the only pure-play nickel fund
Launched in 2023, NIKL is the single U.S.-listed ETF dedicated to nickel mining, tracking a global index of roughly 27 nickel producers and developers. Its expense ratio is 0.75%. Top holdings as of mid-2026 are heavily weighted toward Indonesia and Australia and include Nickel Industries (about 12.5%), PT Aneka Tambang or Antam (about 12.3%), Merdeka Battery Materials (about 10.6%), IGO Limited (about 7.7%), and PT Vale Indonesia (about 6.8%). Because it concentrates on small- and mid-cap miners in a single metal, NIKL is the most direct way to bet on nickel prices, and also the most volatile fund here.
2. iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK)
PICK holds large diversified miners such as BHP, Glencore, Rio Tinto, and Vale, all of which produce nickel alongside iron ore, copper, and other metals. At a 0.39% expense ratio and roughly $1.8 billion in assets, it is a low-cost, liquid way to own the companies that dig nickel out of the ground without betting on one metal. The trade-off is that nickel is only a slice of the underlying revenue, so the fund moves more with iron ore and copper than with nickel alone.
3. SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME)
XME is the cheapest fund on this list at a 0.35% expense ratio, with about $4.5 billion in assets. It uses an equal-weight approach to U.S. metals and mining companies, which tilts it toward steel and diversified miners rather than pure nickel. It suits investors who want a broad, low-cost U.S. mining basket and are comfortable that nickel is an indirect, minority exposure.
4. Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (BATT)
BATT targets the battery-metals supply chain, giving deliberate exposure to nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese, vanadium, and graphite alongside battery makers. Its expense ratio is 0.59%. For investors who care about nickel because of electric-vehicle batteries specifically, BATT captures that theme more directly than a broad miner fund, though it is still a diversified basket rather than a nickel bet.
5. Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT)
LIT is one of the largest battery-themed funds, with about $2 billion in assets and a 0.75% expense ratio. Created in 2010, it spans the full lithium and battery value chain from miners to cell makers to EV producers. Nickel exposure is real but minor here, since the fund is weighted toward lithium and battery manufacturers. Treat LIT as a broad EV-battery play with some nickel inside, not a nickel fund.
6. VanEck Copper and Electrification Metals ETF (EMET, formerly GMET)
This fund traded as the VanEck Green Metals ETF under ticker GMET until it was renamed the VanEck Copper and Electrification Metals ETF (ticker EMET) around June 2026, with a stated expense ratio near 0.61%. Despite older articles labeling GMET a “nickel ETF,” it was never nickel-focused, and its 2026 relaunch tilts it further toward copper and electrification metals. It belongs here only as a critical-metals option with some nickel exposure, not as a nickel fund.
What happened to the old nickel ETFs (JJN, GMET, and NICK)?
Older “best nickel ETF” lists, including earlier versions of this page, recommended several funds that no longer exist or were never nickel funds. If you are researching from a dated article, check these first:
- iPath Series B Bloomberg Nickel Subindex Total Return ETN (JJN) was the old pure-play nickel product, but Barclays suspended trading on June 8, 2023 and redeemed all outstanding notes on June 14, 2023. It is closed and no longer trades.
- VanEck “Nickel ETF” (GMET) was actually the VanEck Green Metals ETF, a broad metals fund, and it was renamed the VanEck Copper and Electrification Metals ETF (ticker EMET) around June 2026. It was never a dedicated nickel fund.
- Global X Nickel Miners ETF (NICK) does not exist. No such U.S.-listed fund trades under that ticker; do not confuse it with the Sprott fund NIKL.
- Invesco Dorsey Wright Industrials Momentum ETF (PRN), formerly the PowerShares Dynamic Industrials Sector ETF, is an industrials-momentum fund, not a metals or nickel fund. It has appeared on old nickel lists by mistake.
Is there a pure nickel ETF?
Yes, but only one: the Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL) is the only U.S.-listed ETF built specifically around nickel. There is currently no U.S. ETF that holds physical nickel or nickel futures for retail investors, since the former iPath nickel ETN (JJN) closed in 2023. If you want focused nickel exposure through a single ticker, NIKL is effectively the only option, and every other fund on this list reaches nickel through a wider basket of miners or battery metals.
Why invest in nickel in 2026?
Nickel matters because roughly two-thirds of it goes into stainless steel, with a fast-growing share used in electric-vehicle battery cathodes (NMC and NCA chemistries). That gives it exposure to both industrial demand and the energy transition. In 2026, though, the market is oversupplied: Indonesia now accounts for more than 60% of global mined nickel, and LME nickel stocks jumped about 58% over the past year to more than 367,000 tonnes.
As of mid-July 2026, LME nickel cash traded around $16,725 per tonne, well below its earlier highs. Forecasts for 2026 cluster between roughly $15,000 and $19,000 per tonne, with the World Bank near $15,500 and Goldman Sachs projecting an average around $17,200; the spread mostly reflects how strictly Indonesia enforces its 2026 ore-production target of 250 to 260 million tonnes. The investment case is a longer-term bet that EV-battery demand and eventual supply discipline tighten the market, not a claim that prices rise this year.
What should you look for in a nickel ETF?
Four factors separate these funds:
- Type of exposure. Pure-play (NIKL) moves closest to nickel prices; diversified-miner funds (PICK, XME) blend nickel with iron ore, copper, and steel; battery-metal funds (BATT, LIT) mix nickel with lithium and cobalt.
- Expense ratio. Costs range from 0.35% (XME) to 0.75% (NIKL, LIT). A focused or niche fund usually costs more, so decide whether concentration is worth the fee.
- Holdings and geography. NIKL is heavily weighted to Indonesian and Australian miners, which adds country-specific policy risk; broad funds spread that risk across metals and regions.
- Size and liquidity. Larger funds such as XME and PICK trade with tighter spreads, while a single-metal fund like NIKL can be more volatile and thinly traded.
How do you buy nickel ETFs?
You can buy any of these funds through a standard brokerage account. Major brokers including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard, and Robinhood list them commission-free, so the main cost is each fund’s expense ratio. Search the ticker (for example, NIKL or PICK), confirm you have the right fund, and place a limit order for tighter control on thinly traded funds like NIKL. If you do not have an account yet, compare options in our guide to the best ETF brokerages.
What are the pros and cons of nickel ETFs?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Single-ticker exposure to nickel and battery-metal miners | Only one true pure-play fund (NIKL) exists |
| Diversification across many miners reduces single-company risk | Broad funds dilute nickel with iron ore, copper, and steel |
| Lower cost and easier to trade than futures or physical metal | Nickel is oversupplied and volatile heading into 2026 |
| A direct way to invest in the EV-battery supply chain | NIKL concentrates country risk in Indonesia and Australia |
Nickel is a cyclical, commodity-linked investment, so size any position accordingly and pair it with broader holdings. For related ideas, see our guides to lithium stocks, copper stocks, and how to invest in cobalt.
Nickel ETF FAQs
Is there a pure nickel ETF?
Yes. The Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NIKL) is the only U.S.-listed ETF built specifically around nickel miners. There is no U.S. ETF that holds physical nickel or nickel futures for retail investors, because the former iPath nickel ETN (JJN) closed in 2023.
What is the best nickel ETF to buy in 2026?
For direct exposure, NIKL is the only pure-play nickel fund. If you prefer lower cost and broad diversification, the iShares Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK, 0.39%) and SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME, 0.35%) reach nickel through large miners. The best choice depends on how concentrated you want to be. This is not financial advice.
Did the JJN nickel ETN close?
Yes. Barclays suspended trading in the iPath Series B Bloomberg Nickel ETN (JJN) on June 8, 2023 and redeemed all outstanding notes on June 14, 2023. It no longer trades, so any older article recommending JJN is out of date.
Does the Sprott NIKL ETF hold physical nickel?
No. NIKL holds shares of roughly 27 nickel mining and development companies rather than the physical metal. Its returns track nickel miners, which are influenced by nickel prices but also by each company’s costs, geography, and production.
Are nickel ETFs a good investment in 2026?
Nickel is oversupplied in 2026, with Indonesia supplying more than 60% of global output and LME prices near $16,700 per tonne. The bull case is a longer-term bet on EV-battery demand and future supply discipline. Nickel ETFs are cyclical and volatile, so treat them as a small, satellite position. This is educational information, not financial advice.
How we chose these nickel ETFs
We screened U.S.-listed ETFs for genuine nickel exposure, then verified each fund’s current name, ticker, and expense ratio directly against provider and exchange data as of July 2026. Funds that closed (JJN), were renamed (GMET to EMET), never existed (NICK), or are not metals funds (PRN) were removed or flagged. Market figures come from LME and published 2026 nickel forecasts. Holdings and rates change, so confirm the latest fund documents before investing.
Disclosure: The Impact Investor may earn a commission if you open an account through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Nickel ETFs are volatile, commodity-linked investments; do your own research and consider speaking with a licensed financial advisor before investing.