FTXH vs. SMH
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH).
FTXH and SMH are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FTXH is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq U.S. Smart Pharmaceuticals Index. It was launched on Sep 20, 2016. SMH is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. It was launched on Dec 20, 2011. Both FTXH and SMH are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
FTXH vs. SMH - Performance Comparison
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FTXH vs. SMH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTXH First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF | 5.20% | 24.15% | 2.98% | -1.41% | 2.55% | 6.14% | 11.73% | 22.13% | -9.51% | 19.44% |
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 8.84% | 49.17% | 39.10% | 73.38% | -33.53% | 42.13% | 55.53% | 64.45% | -9.05% | 38.48% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTXH achieves a 5.20% return, which is significantly lower than SMH's 8.84% return.
FTXH
- 1D
- 0.69%
- 1M
- -2.33%
- YTD
- 5.20%
- 6M
- 17.23%
- 1Y
- 31.34%
- 3Y*
- 11.55%
- 5Y*
- 7.51%
- 10Y*
- —
SMH
- 1D
- 2.24%
- 1M
- -3.55%
- YTD
- 8.84%
- 6M
- 17.83%
- 1Y
- 85.04%
- 3Y*
- 44.53%
- 5Y*
- 26.15%
- 10Y*
- 31.58%
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FTXH vs. SMH - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTXH has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SMH's 0.35% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FTXH vs. SMH — Risk / Return Rank
FTXH
SMH
FTXH vs. SMH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH) 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.
| FTXH | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.51 | 2.32 | -0.81 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.06 | 2.92 | -0.86 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.41 | -0.14 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.17 | 5.39 | -3.22 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.06 | 19.22 | -12.16 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FTXH | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.51 | 2.32 | -0.81 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 | 0.76 | -0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.98 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | 0.28 | +0.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between FTXH and SMH is 0.32, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
FTXH vs. SMH - Dividend Comparison
FTXH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.22%, more than SMH's 0.28% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTXH First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF | 1.22% | 1.41% | 1.66% | 1.55% | 1.11% | 1.03% | 0.82% | 0.67% | 0.91% | 2.18% | 0.19% | 0.00% |
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.28% | 0.31% | 0.44% | 0.60% | 1.18% | 0.51% | 0.69% | 1.50% | 1.88% | 1.43% | 0.80% | 2.14% |
Drawdowns
FTXH vs. SMH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTXH drawdown since its inception was -32.11%, smaller than the maximum SMH drawdown of -84.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTXH and SMH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FTXH | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.11% | -84.96% | +52.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.74% | -15.95% | +3.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.51% | -45.30% | +25.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -45.30% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.69% | -8.02% | +5.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.88% | -41.35% | +35.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.92% | 4.47% | -0.55% |
Volatility
FTXH vs. SMH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH) is 6.01%, while VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has a volatility of 11.74%. This indicates that FTXH 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.
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Volatility by Period
| FTXH | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.01% | 11.74% | -5.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.84% | 24.02% | -12.18% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.09% | 36.88% | -15.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.15% | 34.68% | -18.53% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.45% | 32.29% | -13.84% |