BRK-B vs. SMHX

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while SMHX (VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF) is Semiconductors fund tracking the MarketVector™ US Listed Fabless Semiconductor Index. Over the past year, BRK-B returned -0.12% vs 109.92% for SMHX. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions.

Performance

BRK-B vs. SMHX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -2.89% return, which is significantly lower than SMHX's 56.56% return.

BRK-B

• 1D: 1.98%
• 1M: 3.90%
• YTD: -2.89%
• 6M: -3.21%
• 1Y: -0.12%
• 3Y*: 13.55%
• 5Y*: 10.78%
• 10Y*: 13.19%

SMHX

• 1D: -10.44%
• 1M: 9.29%
• YTD: 56.56%
• 6M: 48.92%
• 1Y: 109.92%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BRK-B vs. SMHX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-2.89%	10.89%	-2.43%
SMHX VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF	56.56%	30.00%	17.76%

Correlation

The correlation between BRK-B and SMHX is -0.16, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.16
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 29, 2024	-0.02

The correlation between BRK-B and SMHX shifts across timeframes, from -0.16 (1 year) to -0.02 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

BRK-B vs. SMHX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 38
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 41
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 33
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 32
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 41

SMHX

SMHX Risk / Return Rank: 86
SMHX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
SMHX Sortino Ratio Rank: 79
SMHX Omega Ratio Rank: 82
SMHX Calmar Ratio Rank: 93
SMHX Martin Ratio Rank: 87

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BRK-B vs. SMHX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	BRK-B	SMHX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.01	3.21	-3.22
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.09	3.46	-3.38
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.01	1.48	-0.47
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.01	6.48	-6.49
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.03	18.08	-18.11
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BRK-B vs. SMHX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRK-B Sharpe Ratio is -0.01, which is lower than the SMHX Sharpe Ratio of 3.21. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRK-B and SMHX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BRK-B	SMHX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.01	3.21	-3.22
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.63	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.68	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.48	1.58	-1.10

Drawdowns

BRK-B vs. SMHX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than SMHX's maximum drawdown of -38.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and SMHX.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRK-B	SMHX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.86%	-38.53%	-15.33%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.42%	-17.06%	+7.64%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.95%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.58%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-29.57%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.57%	-12.26%	+2.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.07%	-7.33%	-3.74%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.47%	6.10%	-1.63%

Volatility

BRK-B vs. SMHX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 4.08%, while VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX) has a volatility of 16.81%. This indicates that BRK-B experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMHX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRK-B	SMHX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.08%	16.81%	-12.73%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.87%	27.61%	-16.74%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.39%	34.44%	-20.05%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.13%	40.73%	-23.60%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.43%	40.73%	-21.30%

Dividends

BRK-B vs. SMHX - Dividend Comparison

BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SMHX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.02%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SMHX VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF	0.02%	0.02%	0.04%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BRK-B and SMHX in my portfolio?

BRK-B and SMHX have a correlation of -0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BRK-B or SMHX?

SMHX has higher volatility (16.81%) compared to BRK-B (4.08%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs SMHX's -38.53%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SMHX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.21 vs -0.01), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.