SOXX vs SMH: which ETF is better?
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) compared on fees, holdings overlap, dividend yield, returns and risk, using the latest data.
- SOXX and SMH have high overlap: 70% of each fund by weight sits in the same holdings.
- SOXX is cheaper at 0.33% a year against 0.35% for SMH, about $2 less in fees per $10,000 invested each year.
- Over the last 10 years, SMH returned an average of 31.4% a year against 28.6% for SOXX, with dividends reinvested.
- SOXX pays more income, yielding 0.76% over the last 12 months against 0.24% for SMH.
- Overlap by weight
- 69.6%
- Shared holdings
- 23
| SOXX | SMH | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | iShares Semiconductor ETF | VanEck Semiconductor ETF |
| Issuer | IShares | VanEck |
| Listed on | Nasdaq · USD | Nasdaq · USD |
| Expense ratio | 0.33% | 0.35% |
| Assets (AUM) | $39.1B | $60.7B |
| Launched | Jul 10, 2001 | Dec 20, 2011 |
| Holdings | 31 | 25 |
| Dividend yield (12m) | 0.76% · quarterly | 0.24% · annual |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Annualised return | SOXX | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +38.1% | +32.6% |
| 3 years | +38.1% | +46.4% |
| 5 years | +19.8% | +26.4% |
| 10 years | +28.6% | +31.4% |
| Volatility | 41.3% | 38.3% |
| Max drawdown | -45.8% | -45.3% |
Volatility is the annualised standard deviation of daily returns over 3 years. Max drawdown is the largest fall from a peak over the last 10 years, or since launch.
| Holding | SOXX | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA | 8.50% | 21.00% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 8.14% | 5.88% |
| TXNTEXAS INSTRUMENT | 5.51% | 6.17% |
| ADIANALOG DEVICES | 5.15% | 5.03% |
| AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES | 8.88% | 5.02% |
| QCOMQUALCOMM | 4.75% | 4.32% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY | 7.08% | 4.13% |
| KLACKLA | 3.82% | 4.12% |
| AMATAPPLIED MATERIAL INC | 3.60% | 3.95% |
| TSMTAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING | 3.36% | 9.76% |
Pull each fund's details, full price history and holdings into Google Sheets or Excel, so your comparison updates itself.
=SF("SOXX","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("SOXX","2016-10-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")=SF("SMH","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("SMH","2016-10-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")Prices to Nov 6, 2026; holdings last checked Nov 6, 2026. Returns are in each fund's trading currency (USD). Past performance doesn't predict future returns. For information only, not investment advice.
More comparisons
SOXX vs SMH: frequently asked questions
How much do SOXX and SMH overlap?
69.6% by weight. They share 23 holdings, and that share of each fund is invested in exactly the same positions. They share a large core but each adds something the other doesn't.
Is SOXX or SMH cheaper?
SOXX is cheaper. SOXX's expense ratio is 0.33% a year and SMH's is 0.35%, so on $10,000 you'd pay about $33 and $35 a year.
Which has performed better, SOXX or SMH?
Over the last 10 years, SMH has. SOXX returned 28.6% and SMH 31.4% a year on average, including reinvested dividends, as of Nov 6, 2026. Past returns don't predict future ones.
Which pays a higher dividend, SOXX or SMH?
SOXX does. Over the last 12 months SOXX yielded 0.76%, paid quarterly, and SMH 0.24%, paid annual.
Should I hold both SOXX and SMH?
They overlap by 70%, so holding both does spread your money more widely than either alone. Whether that suits you depends on the mix you want. This is general information, not advice.
Build your own fund comparison that updates itself
SheetsFinance pulls prices, dividends, ETF holdings and fund details for 80,000+ assets straight into Google Sheets and Excel.