Compare/Updated Oct 26, 2026, refreshed every trading day
SMH vs SOXX
VanEck Semiconductor ETF against iShares Semiconductor ETF: 4 years of returns, risk and today’s technical read, from Kavout’s own data.
SMH did better over the period: $1,000 invested on Oct. 28, 2022 grew to $5,590, versus $4,417 for SOXX, a difference of $1,173. SMH also led over three years, returning 266.5% versus 209.7%, and won 30 of the last 48 months. That advantage came with slightly higher fees but lower recent risk: SMH’s expense ratio was 0.35% versus SOXX’s 0.34%, while 12-month volatility was 40.0% versus 46.4% and maximum drawdown was -35.7% versus -41.4%. The funds remain highly similar, with 0.983 daily-return correlation, so the choice primarily reflects portfolio composition and historical execution rather than broad semiconductor exposure. SOXX nevertheless had stronger YTD and one-year returns, at 59.1% and 68.8% versus SMH’s 46.4% and 55.7%.
- Price is above its 200-day average ($515); 50-day at $575.
- RSI 33, neutral. Supertrend says sell. ADX 26, so the trend is strong.
- Price is above its 200-day average ($472); 50-day at $532.
- RSI 32, neutral. Supertrend says sell. ADX 26, so the trend is strong.
Head to head
Which has returned more, SMH or SOXX?
SMH beat SOXX in 30 of the last 48 months; SOXX won the other 18. The typical monthly gap was 1.51 points.
Total return by period
Which is riskier?
Both: Jul 10, 2024 to Apr 8, 2025
- 0.983
- correlation of daily moves, 4 years
- 0.92
- SMH move per 1% in SOXX
- 0.988
- correlation, last 12 months
Month by month
Of the last 48 months. The typical gap was 1.51 points.
When did they diverge?
| Month | SMH | SOXX | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | +32.2% | +40.4% | -8.23 pts |
| May 2026 | +18.2% | +23.3% | -5.13 pts |
| January 2024 | +6.3% | +1.7% | +4.56 pts |
| October 2024 | -1.5% | -5.3% | +3.81 pts |
Where the numbers come from. 1000 daily adjusted closes per fund from the Kavout market-data API, dividends included. Signals and indicators are Kavout’s own, refreshed nightly. Every figure is calculated from those adjusted closes.
Holdings and fees
What do you actually own with SMH and SOXX?
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