SMH vs SOXX ETF comparison
SMH vs SOXX
SMH holds 25 of the largest U.S.-listed chip companies, weighted by size with Nvidia near a fifth of the fund, and SOXX holds 30 U.S.-listed chip companies with caps that keep the largest names closer together. Both are semiconductor funds, but they follow different indexes. SMH follows the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, which weights 25 chip companies by market value, so the biggest companies dominate.
SOXX follows the NYSE Semiconductor Index, which holds 30 chip companies and caps the weight of the largest ones. SMH charges 0.35% and SOXX charges 0.33%. This page lines up what each fund holds, how much they overlap, how each performed and what each costs, with the date next to every number.
SMH vs SOXX, the short answer
SMH and SOXX differ in what they hold and what they charge. Both are semiconductor funds, but they follow different indexes. SMH follows the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, which weights 25 chip companies by market value, so the biggest companies dominate. SOXX follows the NYSE Semiconductor Index, which holds 30 chip companies and caps the weight of the largest ones.
Expense ratios are 0.35% and 0.33%. NAV total returns, annualized (both to Sep 30, 2026): 1 year 86.89% vs 110.14%; 3 years 62.00% vs 54.08%; 5 years 37.37% vs 31.76%; 10 years 34.41% vs 32.41%. Neither is better for everyone; the choice turns on which theme you want, how concentrated you are willing to be and what you already own.
Want the full picture of one fund before you compare? Read the complete guide for each fund: SMH guide and SOXX guide. Each guide covers fees, holdings, yield, returns and taxes.
SMH vs SOXX overlap, if you own both
SMH · ten largest holdings
As of Nov 9, 2026- 1Nvidia NVDA18.91%Both
- 2Taiwan Semiconductor TSM9.83%Only here
- 3Texas Instruments TXN6.01%Both
- 4Broadcom AVGO5.90%Both
- 5Advanced Micro Devices AMD5.78%Both
- 6Analog Devices ADI5.03%Both
- 7ASML Holding ASML4.66%Only here
- 8KLA KLAC4.40%Both
- 9Qualcomm QCOM4.33%Both
- 10Micron Technology MU4.22%Both
Ten largest total 69.1%
SOXX · ten largest holdings
As of Nov 6, 2026- 1Advanced Micro Devices AMD9.46%Both
- 2Nvidia NVDA8.38%Both
- 3Broadcom AVGO7.86%Both
- 4Micron Technology MU7.13%Both
- 5Intel INTC6.23%Only here
- 6Texas Instruments TXN5.27%Both
- 7Analog Devices ADI4.98%Both
- 8Qualcomm QCOM4.81%Both
- 9NXP Semiconductors NXPI4.66%Only here
- 10KLA KLAC3.91%Both
Ten largest total 62.7%
Shared by both · 8 companies
| Company | SMH weight | SOXX weight | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nvidia NVDA | 18.91% | 8.38% | +10.53 pts |
| Texas Instruments TXN | 6.01% | 5.27% | +0.74 pts |
| Broadcom AVGO | 5.90% | 7.86% | -1.96 pts |
| Advanced Micro Devices AMD | 5.78% | 9.46% | -3.68 pts |
| Analog Devices ADI | 5.03% | 4.98% | +0.05 pts |
| KLA KLAC | 4.40% | 3.91% | +0.49 pts |
| Qualcomm QCOM | 4.33% | 4.81% | -0.48 pts |
| Micron Technology MU | 4.22% | 7.13% | -2.91 pts |
Only in SMH’s top ten: Taiwan Semiconductor, ASML Holding. Only in SOXX’s top ten: Intel, NXP Semiconductors.
The twist
70.8% of the weight sits in stocks both funds hold (matched by ticker in issuer holdings dated Nov 9, 2026 and Nov 6, 2026), and 8 stocks appear in both top-ten lists. Holding both repeats most of the same exposure, so the second fund mostly adds weight to what you already own.
SMH vs SOXX, one goal, which fund?
SMH vs SOXX, where the money goes
SMH · VanEck, Nov 9, 2026
SOXX · iShares, Nov 6, 2026
SMH vs SOXX returns compared over 1, 3, 5 and 10 years
SMH vs SOXX, what each fund costs a year
The data room
Every figure behind the SMH vs SOXX cards above, with its source, date and evidence grade. Open the issuer documents before relying on any number.
SMH vs SOXX key facts
Evidence grade: Issuer issuer page · Mixed issuer plus provider · 3rd party| Metric | SMH | SOXX | Grade and source |
|---|
Portfolio characteristics
| Metric | SMH | SOXX | Grade and source |
|---|
Net assets are dated Nov 9, 2026 for both funds (SMH $62.63B; SOXX $37.53B). Figures an issuer page does not show are left out or marked Not captured, not estimated.
SMH vs SOXX holdings and top ten
Click a tile · SMH: VanEck, Nov 9, 2026 · SOXX: iShares, Nov 6, 2026Tile area is proportional to weight.
| # | Holding | Weight |
|---|
| # | Holding | Weight |
|---|
Top ten sums: SMH 69.1% · SOXX 62.7%. 8 shared top-ten holdings. Weights change.
SMH vs SOXX sector exposure
SMH: Nov 9, 2026 · SOXX: Nov 6, 2026The sector mirror
Same funds, different lenses
Company size
SMH holds 25 stocks and SOXX holds 30. SMH reports a weighted average market cap of $1,542.6B. Theme funds that weight by market value lean toward very large companies, while equal-weight designs give smaller companies more say.
What you actually own
SMH vs SOXX performance
Matched dates, both to Sep 30, 2026All rows come from the issuer pages and are dated Sep 30, 2026 for both funds, so they compare like for like. NAV returns include fees; market price and index returns are shown beside them where the issuer published them. “Since inception” starts in different years (SMH 2011, SOXX 2001). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Growth of a hypothetical $10,000 · NAV total return, both to Sep 30, 2026
Both funds derived from issuer NAV total returns on matched dates (compounded). Fund expenses are already in NAV. Illustration, not a forecast.
SMH vs SOXX yield, dividends and dividend growth
Latest eight payouts each| SMH ex-date | Payable | $ / share | SOXX ex-date | Payable | $ / share |
|---|
Paid per share, last 12 months vs the 12 months before
Payouts are listed by ex-dividend date. The like-for-like comparison is the total paid over the last 12 months against the 12 months before (cards above: SMH $1.105 per share, SOXX $0.417 per share). See yield vs total return.
| Measure | SMH | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day SEC yield | 0.23% | 0.11% |
| Trailing 12-month | 0.23% | 0.22% |
| Paid, last 12 months | $1.105 | $0.417 |
| Frequency | Annual | Quarterly |
Theme funds like these pay little income. The 30-day SEC yield was 0.23% for SMH and 0.11% for SOXX, and a figure near zero or below means fund costs use up most of the dividends the stocks pay. These funds are held for growth, not yield. Gaps are marked Not captured. See what is dividend yield and yield vs total return.
SMH vs SOXX concentration and overlap
Ten largest positions · shared holdingsRank by rank, the ten largest holdings of each fund. Top five: SMH 46.4%, SOXX 39.1%. Top ten: SMH 69.1%, SOXX 62.7%.
SMH vs SOXX trading and liquidity
Issuer fund pages · Nov 9, 2026The issuers report 30-day median bid/ask spreads of 0.02% for SMH and 0.02% for SOXX. A spread of 0.05% is about $50 between the buy and sell price on $100,000, and smaller funds usually cost more to trade than larger ones. Funds with many foreign holdings can also trade at a premium or discount to NAV when overseas markets are closed. Use limit orders for large trades and avoid the first and last minutes of the session. See creation, redemption and trading.
SMH vs SOXX expense ratio and fees in dollars
As stated by each issuer| Balance | SMH (0.35%) | SOXX (0.33%) | Gap per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $35 | $33 | $2 |
| $50,000 | $175 | $165 | $10 |
| $100,000 | $350 | $330 | $20 |
The expense ratio is taken from fund assets, not billed to you. Fees exclude the bid/ask spread, any premium or discount to NAV, brokerage commissions and taxes.
SMH vs SOXX, how each fund picks its stocks
Index approach, in plain languageSMH · MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index
SMH tracks the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. It holds 25 of the largest U.S.-listed chip companies, weighted by size with Nvidia near a fifth of the fund. It was launched in 2011, and the ten largest holdings total 69.1% of the fund. Index rules and rebalance dates are in the prospectus.
SOXX · NYSE Semiconductor Index
SOXX tracks the NYSE Semiconductor Index. It holds 30 U.S.-listed chip companies with caps that keep the largest names closer together. It was launched in 2001, and the ten largest holdings total 62.7% of the fund. Index rules and rebalance dates are in the prospectus.
Exact eligibility rules, caps and rebalance dates sit in each prospectus and index methodology; read them before relying on this summary.
SMH vs SOXX, why yield and returns differ
Sector mix explains much of the gapBoth are semiconductor funds, but they follow different indexes. SMH follows the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, which weights 25 chip companies by market value, so the biggest companies dominate. SOXX follows the NYSE Semiconductor Index, which holds 30 chip companies and caps the weight of the largest ones.
Because each index sets its own rules, the funds hold different stocks at different weights, and that explains most of the gap in returns. A fund that puts more weight in its largest companies will follow those companies closely, while an evenly weighted fund behaves more like an average of many smaller ones. Fees matter less than holdings over short periods and more over long ones.
How to decide between SMH and SOXX
A step-by-step frameworkStart with what separates them: Both are semiconductor funds, but they follow different indexes. SMH follows the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, which weights 25 chip companies by market value, so the biggest companies dominate. SOXX follows the NYSE Semiconductor Index, which holds 30 chip companies and caps the weight of the largest ones. Then check what you already own: the funds overlap by 70.8%, so holding both adds little.
- Step 1 · Theme: SMH is a semiconductor fund and SOXX is a semiconductor fund.
- Step 2 · Concentration: the ten largest holdings are 69.1% of SMH and 62.7% of SOXX.
- Step 3 · Cost: SMH 0.35% vs SOXX 0.33%.
- Step 4 · Overlap with your core: large technology companies also sit in S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 funds, so use the Diversification Calculator against what you own.
Size the position against your whole portfolio. Theme funds are volatile, so they usually play a small, deliberate role beside a core fund.
SMH vs SOXX for Canadian investors
Currency, withholding tax and account typeSMH and SOXX are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so buying them from a Canadian account usually involves converting Canadian dollars, which adds a cost on entry and exit. A move in the U.S. dollar also changes your return in Canadian dollars.
Dividends from U.S.-listed funds are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax for Canadian holders, with treatment that depends on the account type. These funds pay little income, so the effect is small, but confirm the rules for your account with a tax professional. This is general education, not tax advice.
Risks of SMH and SOXX
What can go wrongShared risks
- Theme funds are concentrated in one industry or idea, so they can fall much further than the broad market.
- Valuations in technology themes can be high, and prices can drop sharply when growth expectations change.
- Returns can differ widely from one period to the next; a strong year often follows or precedes a weak one.
- Neither fund pays meaningful income, so the return depends on price.
Fund-specific risks
- SMH: ten largest holdings total 69.1% of the fund (Nov 9, 2026); 25 stocks.
- SOXX: ten largest holdings total 62.7% of the fund (Nov 6, 2026); 30 stocks.
- SMH: Nvidia alone is close to 19% of the fund, so one company drives a large share of the result. SOXX: holds only chip companies, an industry known for sharp cycles.
- Both: the funds track indexes with their own rules, so holdings change at each rebalance.
SMH vs SOXX taxes and account placement
General education, not tax adviceBoth funds hold stocks and are taxed like other equity ETFs. Distributions are small, and gains are taxed when you sell, at rates that depend on how long you held the shares and on your own situation. Funds with foreign holdings may pay some foreign tax inside the fund.
For Canadian account types and withholding tax, see the Canadian section above. Confirm the rules for your account with a tax professional, and read how to build an ETF portfolio.
Other ETFs people compare
For context, not recommendationsInvestors comparing SMH and SOXX often also look at the other thematic funds in this group: SMH, SOXX, BOTZ, ROBO, AIQ and SKYY. See the other thematic ETFs comparisons, the broader growth and tech ETFs and the ETF research hub.
SMH vs SOXX drawdown arithmetic
What a decline means in dollarsRecovery gain = decline ÷ (1 − decline). The scenarios use illustrative declines of 10%, 20% and 30% so you can see what a drop does to each fund. They are a rough guide to a bad year, not a worst-case figure. See the Position Size Calculator.
Tools to compare SMH vs SOXX
Static weights from this pageIgnores taxes, spreads and holdings differences. ETF Fee Calculator.
Check shared exposure with the Diversification Calculator.
SMH vs SOXX, which fits which job
Characteristics, not recommendationsSMH may suit investors who want…
Concentrated exposure to the largest chip companies.
Strengths
- Led in 3 of 4 return windows (both to Sep 30, 2026)
- 25 holdings
- Exchange-traded and priced all day
Watch points
- Higher fee: 0.35% against 0.33%
- Heavier top ten: 69.1% against 62.7%
- Narrow theme exposure
- Not a complete portfolio
SOXX may suit investors who want…
Chip exposure with flatter weights across 30 names.
Strengths
- Lower fee: 0.33% against 0.35%
- Flatter top ten: 62.7% against 69.1%
- 30 holdings
- Exchange-traded and priced all day
Watch points
- Led in 1 of 4 return windows (both to Sep 30, 2026)
- Narrow theme exposure
- Not a complete portfolio
SMH vs SOXX investor scenarios
Characteristics that fit, not recommendationsSMH vs SOXX key terms
Plain-language definitions
SMH vs SOXX, frequently asked questions
Answers use the figures and dates shown aboveIs SMH or SOXX better?
In the SMH vs SOXX question, neither is better for everyone. SMH and SOXX differ in what they hold and what they charge. Both are semiconductor funds, but they follow different indexes. SMH follows the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, which weights 25 chip companies by market value, so the biggest companies dominate. SOXX follows the NYSE Semiconductor Index, which holds 30 chip companies and caps the weight of the largest ones.
Expense ratios are 0.35% and 0.33%. NAV total returns, annualized (both to Sep 30, 2026): 1 year 86.89% vs 110.14%; 3 years 62.00% vs 54.08%; 5 years 37.37% vs 31.76%; 10 years 34.41% vs 32.41%. Neither is better for everyone; the choice turns on which theme you want, how concentrated you are willing to be and what you already own.
SMH vs SOXX, what are the expense ratios?
SMH charges 0.35% and SOXX charges 0.33%, which is $35 and $33 a year per $10,000.
SMH vs SOXX, how much do the funds overlap?
On SMH vs SOXX, about 70.8% of the weight is held by both funds, matched by ticker in issuer holdings dated Nov 9, 2026 and Nov 6, 2026. 23 stocks are held by both, and 8 appear in both top-ten lists.
SMH vs SOXX, what does each ETF track?
SMH tracks the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. SOXX tracks the NYSE Semiconductor Index.
SMH vs SOXX, what are the top holdings?
SMH (Nov 9, 2026): Nvidia 18.91%, Taiwan Semiconductor 9.83%, Texas Instruments 6.01%, Broadcom 5.9%, Advanced Micro Devices 5.78%. SOXX (Nov 6, 2026): Advanced Micro Devices 9.46%, Nvidia 8.38%, Broadcom 7.86%, Micron Technology 7.13%, Intel 6.23%.
SMH vs SOXX, which has performed better?
NAV total returns, annualized (both to Sep 30, 2026): 1 year 86.89% vs 110.14%; 3 years 62.00% vs 54.08%; 5 years 37.37% vs 31.76%; 10 years 34.41% vs 32.41%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
SMH vs SOXX, can I own both?
On SMH vs SOXX, you can. They overlap by about 70.8%. Holding both repeats most of the same exposure, so the second fund mostly adds weight to what you already own.
SMH vs SOXX, do the funds pay dividends?
On SMH vs SOXX, only small amounts. The 30-day SEC yield was 0.23% for SMH and 0.11% for SOXX, so income is not the reason to hold either fund.
SMH vs SOXX, how concentrated are the funds?
The ten largest holdings are 69.1% of SMH and 62.7% of SOXX. The largest single holding is Nvidia at 18.91% in SMH and Advanced Micro Devices at 9.46% in SOXX.
SMH vs SOXX, are they suitable for Canadian investors?
On SMH vs SOXX, both are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so Canadians face currency conversion costs and U.S. withholding tax on the small dividends. Treatment differs across TFSA, RRSP and taxable accounts. This is general education, not tax advice.
SMH vs SOXX documents and sources
Open the issuer documents before relying on any figureSMH · VanEck
SOXX · iShares
Third-party sources
VanEck SMH fund page · iShares SOXX fund page.
Methodology and limits
- SMH figures come from the VanEck fund page and SOXX figures from the iShares fund page.
- Dates are shown beside each figure; the issuer documents are linked below.
- Holdings overlap is the sum of the smaller weight of each ticker held by both funds, using each issuer’s full holdings list (Nov 9, 2026 and Nov 6, 2026). Cash and futures are left out.
- Industry groups on this page are assigned by this site from each stock’s main business, using one scheme for every fund, so they will not match an issuer’s own sector table.
- Figures an issuer page does not show are marked Not captured, and nothing was filled from memory or from another fund.
- Growth of $10,000 is derived from annualized NAV total returns on matched dates; dollar values are approximate.
Educational research, not personalized investment, tax or legal advice, and not a recommendation to buy or sell any fund. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Calculators are hypothetical illustrations. Fund data are provided as published by the sources named and may differ from current figures.