SMH vs XLK
VanEck Semiconductor ETF vs State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-10
VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to thematic - semiconductors securities. It charges an above-average expense ratio of 0.35%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.26%. Launched in 2011, the fund has a 15-year track record.
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to us sector - technology securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.54%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLK is significantly cheaper at 0.08% vs 0.35% expense ratio, saving you approximately $530 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, SMH has significantly outperformed with a 119.3% return vs 46.2%.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
5 of top 10 holdings overlap (50% overlap in top holdings)
SMH Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 19.37% |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company LimitedTSM | 11.59% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 7.67% |
| Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.AMD | 4.91% |
| Intel CorporationINTC | 4.83% |
| KLA CorporationKLAC | 4.80% |
| ASML Holding N.V.ASML | 4.77% |
| Analog Devices, Inc.ADI | 4.68% |
| Lam Research CorporationLRCX | 4.60% |
| Applied Materials, Inc.AMAT | 4.58% |
XLK Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 15.18% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 13.04% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 9.54% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 5.71% |
| Micron Technology, Inc.MU | 3.83% |
| Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.AMD | 3.16% |
| Cisco Systems, Inc.CSCO | 2.76% |
| Palantir Technologies Inc.PLTR | 2.69% |
| Lam Research CorporationLRCX | 2.57% |
| Applied Materials, Inc.AMAT | 2.56% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLK if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose SMH if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.