A side-by-side comparison of Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | QTUM | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -19.79%✓ | -22.49% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.49%✓ | -0.78% |
| 1-Week Change | -1.59%✓ | -6.73% |
| 1-Month Change | -12.40% | -18.17%✓ |
| Current Price | $130.08 | $483.63 |
| AUM | $4.59B | $63.48B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.42% | 0.35%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04%✓ | 0.21% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2018-09-04 | 2011-12-20 |
| Holdings Count | 86 | 24 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Technology Equity | Technology Equity |
| Beta | 1.77 | 2.12 |
| 52-Week High | $169.21 | $671.83 |
| 52-Week Low | $97.17 | $314.07 |
| 50-Day MA | $144.40 | $564.32 |
| 200-Day MA | $138.11 | $522.19 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | QTUM | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -19.79%✓ | -22.49% |
| 1 Year | +12.41% | +34.68%✓ |
| 3 Year | +38.67% | +47.26%✓ |
| 5 Year | +19.05% | +28.35%✓ |
| 10 Year | +0.00% | +30.91%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 38.65% | 48.26% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.25 | 1.35 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | 3443 | Global Unichip Corp | 2.28% |
| 2 | ESTC | Elastic NV | 2.05% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 1.93% |
| 4 | RDNT | RadNet Inc | 1.91% |
| 5 | REY | Reply S.p.A. | 1.77% |
| 6 | 6701 | NEC Corp. | 1.68% |
| 7 | PLTR | Palantir Technologies Inc. | 1.70% |
| 8 | NTNX | Nutanix Inc | 1.70% |
| 9 | 9432 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp | 1.70% |
| 10 | SNOW | Snowflake Inc. | 1.56% |
| 1 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 20.49% |
| 2 | TSM | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing | 10.18% |
| 3 | TXN | Texas Instruments Incorporated | 5.76% |
| 4 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 5.59% |
| 5 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 5.09% |
| 6 | ADI | Analog Devices Inc | 4.87% |
| 7 | ASML | ASML Holding N.V. New York Registry Shares | 4.59% |
| 8 | QCOM | Qualcomm Incorporated | 4.33% |
| 9 | KLAC | KLA Corporation | 4.09% |
| 10 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 4.20% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | QTUM | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 7.26% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 2.98% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 1.87% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 10.98% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 78.31% | 100.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About QTUM
The fund uses a "passive management" (or indexing) approach to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the index. The index consists of a modified equal-weighted portfolio of the stock of companies whose business activities, products, and/or services relate to the development of quantum computing and machine learning technology.
About SMH
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the fund's benchmark index. The index includes common stocks and depositary receipts of U.S. exchange-listed companies in the semiconductor industry. Such companies may include medium-capitalization companies and foreign companies that are listed on a U.S. exchange. The fund is non-diversified.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both QTUM and SMH are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, QTUM scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between QTUM and SMH?
QTUM (Defiance Quantum ETF) and SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($4.59B vs $63.48B), dividend yield (1.04% vs 0.21%), and year-to-date performance (-19.79% vs -22.49%).
Is QTUM better than SMH?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, QTUM has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy QTUM and SMH on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both QTUM and SMH should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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