SOXL vs SMH ETF Comparison
Compare SOXL and SMH across fund costs, diversification, holdings, performance, income, risk and current AlgovestIQ evidence.
What is the main difference between SOXL and SMH?
SOXL is Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF, while SMH is VanEck Semiconductor ETF. SOXL is tied to Equity; SMH is tied to Equity. SOXL is broader by holdings count, with 30 positions versus 25 for SMH. SMH is more concentrated at the top, based on top-10 holdings weight.
| Metric | SOXL | SMH | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.91% | 0.35% | Fund |
| Assets under management | $18.2B | $66.6B | Fund |
| Holdings | 30 | 25 | Fund |
| Top-10 concentration | 20.7% | 114.7% | Fund |
| Average volume | 81,412,126 | 8,402,122 | Fund |
| Underlying exposure | Equity | Equity | Fund |
| 1Y return | +322.7% | +92.9% | Performance |
| YTD return | +154% | +53.4% | Performance |
| Annualized volatility | 133.5% | 39.4% | Risk |
| Max drawdown | -69.4% | -24.6% | Risk |
| Beta | 7.68 | 2.39 | Risk |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.75 | 1.78 | Risk |
| Sortino ratio | 2.44 | 2.50 | Risk |
| AIQ Score | 42/100 | 42/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| AIQ Edge Score | 2/10 | 2/10 | AlgovestIQ |
| Momentum | 24/100 | 33/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| Risk Resilience | 0/100 | 26/100 | AlgovestIQ |
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF vs VanEck Semiconductor ETF
SOXL and SMH are effectively level
SOXL and SMH are effectively level on the AIQ Score; the factor table below shows where each one holds its advantage.
Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF
VanEck Semiconductor ETF
The Algovestiq AIQ Score does not currently separate SOXL and SMH as of Sep 5, 2026. Both names are scored on the same 0–100 scale across Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience, and the factor table below shows where each one holds its advantage.
Compare Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF and VanEck Semiconductor ETF across performance, expense ratio, dividend yield, drawdown, volatility and the Algovestiq AIQ Score.
Compare SOXL and SMH against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Risk Resilience15%0 vs 26SMH +26
- Value30%45 vs 28SOXL +17
- Momentum25%24 vs 33SMH +9
- Quality30%76 vs 72SOXL +4
Neither name separates cleanly on the covered dimensions.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-04, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-03.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — SOXL and SMH both carry a full feed there.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
EvenNeither separates on the overall score.
Growth
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
SOXLSOXL on the peer-relative Value factor, by 17 points.
Momentum
SMHSMH on the Momentum factor, by 9 points.
Lower downside
SMHSMH on Risk Resilience, by 26 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
Fund facts, side by side
Two funds tracking overlapping universes are separated by cost and risk far more than by holdings. Those lead here.
| Measure | SOXL | SMH | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.91% | 0.35% | Lower is better — it compounds against you every year you hold. |
| Assets under management | $18.2B | $66.6B | Larger funds generally carry tighter spreads. |
| Holdings | 44 | 26 | More holdings means broader diversification, not better returns. |
| Average volume | 81,412,126 | 8,402,122 | Liquidity — matters most if you trade size. |
| Annualized volatility | 133.5% | 39.4% | Lower is a steadier ride for the same exposure. |
| Max drawdown | -69.4% | -24.6% | The worst peak-to-trough loss on record for the fund. |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.75 | 1.78 | Return per unit of risk. Higher is better. |
| Beta | 7.68 | 2.39 | Sensitivity to the broad market. Neither direction is better — it depends on the role in your portfolio. |
Where the exposure actually sits
SOXL and SMH share 30.85% of their weighted exposure across 23 common holdings.
SMH is the more concentrated of the two: its ten largest positions are 114.7% of the fund, against 20.69% for SOXL (25 holdings vs 30). Concentration cuts both ways — it is what drives outperformance when the top names work, and what makes the drawdown deeper when they do not.
7 holdings are unique to SOXL and 2 to SMH. Owning both is genuinely additive — most of the capital sits in different securities.
Largest shared positions
| Holding | SOXL | SMH | Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 3.5% | 11.21% | 3.5% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.13% | 10.52% | 3.13% |
| INTCIntel Corp | 2.05% | 8.04% | 2.05% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.92% | 23.78% | 1.92% |
| TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co L | 1.83% | 19.3% | 1.83% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Inc | 1.8% | 7.76% | 1.8% |
| AMATApplied Materials Inc | 1.71% | 8.23% | 1.71% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.63% | 8.54% | 1.63% |
Shared weight is the lower of the two positions — the portion of capital both funds genuinely have in the same security.
ETF comparison questions
Short answers to the fund-specific questions behind this comparison.
Which ETF is more diversified, SOXL or SMH?
SOXL currently has more reported holdings, with 30 positions versus 25.
Which has the lower expense ratio?
SMH has the lower reported expense ratio in the current fund profile.
Which ETF has the higher distribution yield?
The current dataset does not show a higher-yield winner.
Which ETF has been more volatile?
SOXL has the higher annualized volatility in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has had the smaller drawdown?
SMH has the less severe max drawdown in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has the stronger current AlgovestIQ evidence?
The current AlgovestIQ evidence does not show a clear leader.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
How each independent group of evidence reads the pair.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 42 vs 42 |
| Fundamentals | Not covered | Not covered |
| Valuation | SOXL | Value 45 vs 28 |
| Technicals | SMH | Price vs 50-day -20.7% vs -1.5%; vs 200-day -1.5% vs 16% |
| Risk Resilience | SMH | Risk Resilience 0 vs 26 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
AIQ Decision Stability
The two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 0 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Apr 23 – Sep 4SOXL lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 0 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- Level
- 42 vs 42
- 7 sessions ago
- SOXL +3
- 46 vs 43
- 30 sessions ago
- SOXL +1
- 50 vs 49
- 90 sessions ago
- SMH +1
- 43 vs 44
The lead changed hands 13 times in this window, most recently on Aug 24 when SOXL moved ahead of SMH.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (36.43%)
- RSI Oversold - Potential Bounce — bullish, momentum, short horizon
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (12.96%)
1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (20.81%)
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +9.87%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +2.61%, AIQ 0 points).
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Performance
Split across windows| Metric | SOXL | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -13.3% | -3.6% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -19.3% | -3.3% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -55.2% | -10.3% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 94.8% | 39.8% |
| Year to date | 154% | 53.4% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 322.7% | 92.9% |
Technicals
SMH has the stronger structure| Metric | SOXL | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 28.8 | 36 |
| ADX (14) | 20.1 | 14.1 |
| Price vs 50-day | -20.7% | -1.5% |
| Price vs 200-day | -1.5% | 16% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 93.2% | 30.6% |
Risk
SMH is the more resilient| Metric | SOXL | SMH |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 7.68 | 2.39 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.75 | 1.78 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.44 | 2.5 |
| Max drawdown | -69.4% | -24.6% |
| Current drawdown | -64.5% | -17.4% |
| Annualized volatility | 133.5% | 39.4% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -14.4% | -4% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better value, SOXL or SMH?
SOXL is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. SOXL on the peer-relative Value factor, by 17 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, SOXL or SMH?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, SOXL or SMH?
SMH on the Momentum factor, by 9 points. Momentum carries 25% of the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, SOXL or SMH?
SMH is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. SMH on Risk Resilience, by 26 points. The Risk Resilience factor weights 15% of the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is SOXL more profitable than SMH?
Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.
What do the current signals say about SOXL and SMH?
SOXL: 2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. SMH: 1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on SOXL is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On SMH it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare SOXL and SMH with others
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality (30%), Value (30%), Momentum (25%) and Risk (15%). Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.