SMH vs XLK
VanEck Semiconductor ETF vs State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, SMH or XLK?
SMH has been ahead.
XLK has a lower expense ratio. SMH led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XLK is less concentrated, with 61.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.9%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SMH | XLK |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $60.9B | $119.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.20% | 0.43% |
| Holdings | 26 | 77 |
| YTD Return | +50.18%Best | +30.64% |
| 1Y Return | +84.23%Best | +39.30% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +56.88%Best | +31.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +33.65%Best | +20.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.4% | 22.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -85.5% | -79.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $42,643Best | $25,123 |
| Top 10 Weight | 71.9% | 61.2%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2011 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 5, 2000 to Sep 17, 2026 (26.4 years).
SMH vs XLK growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 26.4 years both funds cover.
SMH vs XLK Performance
VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year SMH returned +84.23% while XLK returned +39.30%. Year to date, SMH is up 50.18% versus a gain of 30.64% for XLK.
Over three years, SMH compounded at +56.88% per year against +31.27% for XLK; over five years the annualized figures are +33.65% and +20.23% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, SMH has the edge at +11.19% annualized vs +7.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.4% compared with 22.8% for XLK. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -85.5% for SMH and -79.8% for XLK. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMH charges 0.35% per year while XLK charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $8 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMH currently yields 0.20% against 0.43% for XLK.
Holdings Overlap
82.3% of SMH's money is in holdings XLK also owns. 44.0% of XLK's money is in holdings SMH also owns.
Most of SMH is already inside XLK. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
20 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in SMH and 74 in XLK, against full books of 26 and 77.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 53 positions for XLK that do not appear in our book for SMH (55.2% of the fund), and 1 for SMH that do not appear in XLK (0.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SMH | Weight in XLK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 22.94% | 14.37% | 8.57% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.21% | 4.78% | 1.43% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 5.53% | 3.95% | 1.58% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 5.37% | 3.90% | 1.47% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 3.95% | 2.93% | 1.02% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 4.29% | 2.42% | 1.87% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 4.23% | 2.34% | 1.89% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 4.27% | 1.54% | 2.73% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 4.30% | 1.15% | 3.15% |
| KLACKla Corp | 3.81% | 1.49% | 2.32% |
82.3% of SMH is already inside XLK.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SMH or XLK?
SMH has an expense ratio of 0.35% while XLK charges 0.08%. XLK is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMH or XLK?
Over the past year SMH returned +84.23% vs +39.30% for XLK, so SMH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), SMH annualized +11.19% vs +7.85% for XLK. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMH or XLK?
SMH has been the more volatile fund at 31.4% annualized versus 22.8% for XLK. Worst drawdown: SMH -85.5% vs XLK -79.8%.
Should I hold both SMH and XLK?
SMH and XLK have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SMH and XLK?
82.3% of SMH's money is in holdings XLK also owns. 44.0% of XLK's is in holdings SMH also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in SMH and 74 in XLK.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMH or XLK?
SMH yields 0.20% while XLK yields 0.43%, so XLK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLK better than SMH?
XLK has a lower expense ratio. SMH led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XLK is less concentrated, with 61.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.