A side-by-side comparison of VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) and iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) 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 | SMH | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -0.99%✓ | -3.84% |
| 1-Day Change | +1.45%✓ | +1.35% |
| 1-Week Change | +2.88%✓ | +1.81% |
| 1-Month Change | +13.31%✓ | +15.27% |
| Current Price | $617.81 | $576.33 |
| AUM | $74.62B✓ | $48.90B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.35% | 0.35% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.20% | 0.29%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2011-12-20 | 2001-07-10 |
| Holdings Count | 25 | 30 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Category | Technology | Technology |
| Beta | 2.06 | 2.33 |
| 52-Week High | $671.83 | $655.52 |
| 52-Week Low | $314.07 | $259.61 |
| 50-Day MA | $568.22 | $528.27 |
| 200-Day MA | $496.79 | $451.04 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | SMH | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -0.99%✓ | -3.84% |
| 1 Year | +89.50% | +114.18%✓ |
| 3 Year | +62.61%✓ | +55.17% |
| 5 Year | +35.63%✓ | +30.43% |
| 10 Year | +34.84%✓ | +33.02% |
| 1Y Volatility | 44.01% | 54.23% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.33 | 1.05 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 19.68% |
| 2 | TSM | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing | 9.30% |
| 3 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 5.61% |
| 4 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 5.24% |
| 5 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 4.93% |
| 6 | INTC | Intel Corporation | 4.71% |
| 7 | TXN | Texas Instruments Incorporated | 4.59% |
| 8 | AMAT | Applied Materials Inc | 4.48% |
| 9 | KLAC | KLA Corporation | 4.46% |
| 10 | ASML | ASML Holding N.V. New York Registry Shares | 4.43% |
| 1 | INTC | Intel Corporation | 9.26% |
| 2 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 9.23% |
| 3 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 7.94% |
| 4 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 7.36% |
| 5 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 6.86% |
| 6 | MRVL | Marvell Technology Group Ltd | 4.45% |
| 7 | KLAC | KLA Corporation | 4.00% |
| 8 | AMAT | Applied Materials Inc | 3.99% |
| 9 | ADI | Analog Devices Inc | 3.93% |
| 10 | QCOM | Qualcomm Incorporated | 3.86% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | SMH | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
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.
About SOXX
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its index and may invest up to 20% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents. The fund is non-diversified.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both SMH and SOXX 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, SMH 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 SMH and SOXX?
SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) and SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($74.62B vs $48.90B), dividend yield (0.20% vs 0.29%), and year-to-date performance (-0.99% vs -3.84%).
Is SMH better than SOXX?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, SMH has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy SMH and SOXX on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both SMH and SOXX should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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