BRNT.L vs. SMH

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

BRNT.L (WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil) and SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BRNT.L is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Bloomberg Brent Crude Subindex, while SMH is a Semiconductors fund tracking the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, BRNT.L returned 12.92%/yr vs 37.49%/yr for SMH. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BRNT.L charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for SMH.

Performance

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil (BRNT.L) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BRNT.L achieves a 67.54% return, which is significantly lower than SMH's 72.15% return. Over the past 10 years, BRNT.L has underperformed SMH with an annualized return of 12.92%, while SMH has yielded a comparatively higher 37.49% annualized return.

BRNT.L

• 1D: -6.20%
• 1M: -11.06%
• YTD: 67.54%
• 6M: 70.28%
• 1Y: 52.42%
• 3Y*: 23.07%
• 5Y*: 21.42%
• 10Y*: 12.92%

SMH

• 1D: 1.72%
• 1M: 7.20%
• YTD: 72.15%
• 6M: 75.62%
• 1Y: 141.99%
• 3Y*: 60.05%
• 5Y*: 38.42%
• 10Y*: 37.49%

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

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BRNT.L WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil	67.54%	-6.34%	7.45%	1.08%	35.10%	66.26%	-33.22%	32.37%	-13.97%	12.40%
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF	72.15%	49.17%	39.10%	73.38%	-33.53%	42.13%	55.53%	64.45%	-9.05%	38.48%

Correlation

The correlation between BRNT.L and SMH is -0.10, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.10
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.01
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.05
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.07
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 22, 2012	0.11

The correlation between BRNT.L and SMH shifts across timeframes, from -0.10 (1 year) to 0.11 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

BRNT.L vs. SMH — Risk / Return Rank

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

BRNT.L

BRNT.L Risk / Return Rank: 50
BRNT.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
BRNT.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 41
BRNT.L Omega Ratio Rank: 48
BRNT.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
BRNT.L Martin Ratio Rank: 42

SMH

SMH Risk / Return Rank: 96
SMH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
SMH Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
SMH Omega Ratio Rank: 94
SMH Calmar Ratio Rank: 97
SMH Martin Ratio Rank: 96

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.

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil (BRNT.L) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	BRNT.L	SMH	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.40	4.13	-2.73
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.86	4.26	-2.40
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.27	1.60	-0.33
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.20	9.18	-5.98
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.88	33.74	-27.86

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRNT.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.40, which is lower than the SMH Sharpe Ratio of 4.13. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRNT.L and SMH, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRNT.L drawdown since its inception was -86.06%, roughly equal to the maximum SMH drawdown of -84.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRNT.L and SMH.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRNT.L	SMH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-86.06%	-84.96%	-1.10%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-18.66%	-14.93%	-3.73%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-24.88%	-35.74%	+10.86%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-31.44%	-45.30%	+13.86%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-71.92%	-45.30%	-26.62%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-15.93%	-2.81%	-13.12%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-43.87%	-41.04%	-2.83%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	10.19%	4.06%	+6.13%

Volatility

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil (BRNT.L) is 13.34%, while VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has a volatility of 16.25%. This indicates that BRNT.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRNT.L	SMH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	13.34%	16.25%	-2.91%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	37.75%	27.73%	+10.02%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	42.73%	33.20%	+9.53%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	34.88%	35.47%	-0.59%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	35.25%	32.82%	+2.43%

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Expense Ratio Comparison

BRNT.L has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than SMH's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

BRNT.L vs. SMH - Dividend Comparison

BRNT.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SMH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.18%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BRNT.L WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF	0.18%	0.31%	0.44%	0.60%	1.18%	0.51%	0.69%	1.50%	1.88%	1.43%	0.80%	2.14%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BRNT.L and SMH in my portfolio?

BRNT.L and SMH have a correlation of -0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, BRNT.L or SMH?

On fees, SMH is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, BRNT.L or SMH?

SMH is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for BRNT.L.

What is the main difference between BRNT.L and SMH?

BRNT.L is categorized as Oil & Gas, while SMH is Semiconductors. BRNT.L tracks Bloomberg Brent Crude Subindex, while SMH tracks MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. They also come from different issuers: WisdomTree and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for BRNT.L and 0.35% for SMH.