SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SMAX.TO (Hamilton U.S. Equity YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF) and CNQE.TO (Harvest CNQ Enhanced High Income Shares ETF) are both Derivative Income funds. Both are actively managed. At a correlation of -0.15, they often move in opposite directions. SMAX.TO charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for CNQE.TO.

Performance

SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Hamilton U.S. Equity YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (SMAX.TO) and Harvest CNQ Enhanced High Income Shares ETF (CNQE.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SMAX.TO achieves a 18.79% return, which is significantly lower than CNQE.TO's 39.35% return.

SMAX.TO

• 1D: 0.31%
• 1M: 10.49%
• YTD: 18.79%
• 6M: 17.56%
• 1Y: 44.38%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

CNQE.TO

• 1D: 1.83%
• 1M: 3.29%
• YTD: 39.35%
• 6M: 37.15%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
SMAX.TO Hamilton U.S. Equity YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF	18.79%	12.48%
CNQE.TO Harvest CNQ Enhanced High Income Shares ETF	39.35%	13.80%

Correlation

The correlation between SMAX.TO and CNQE.TO is -0.15, 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 (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 22, 2025	-0.15

Return for Risk

SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

SMAX.TO

SMAX.TO Risk / Return Rank: 94
SMAX.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
SMAX.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
SMAX.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 94
SMAX.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 93
SMAX.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 93

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.

SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Hamilton U.S. Equity YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (SMAX.TO) and Harvest CNQ Enhanced High Income Shares ETF (CNQE.TO). 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.

	SMAX.TO	CNQE.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	3.61	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	5.00	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.71	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	6.95	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	25.77	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SMAX.TO	CNQE.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.61	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	2.32	2.48	-0.16

Drawdowns

SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SMAX.TO drawdown since its inception was -18.22%, roughly equal to the maximum CNQE.TO drawdown of -18.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMAX.TO and CNQE.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	SMAX.TO	CNQE.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.22%	-18.22%	0.00%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.42%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.32%	-6.08%	+5.76%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.09%	-4.12%	+2.03%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.73%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	SMAX.TO	CNQE.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.51%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.72%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.36%	33.12%	-20.76%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.62%	33.12%	-18.50%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.62%	33.12%	-18.50%

SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

SMAX.TO has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than CNQE.TO's 0.40% expense ratio.

Dividends

SMAX.TO vs. CNQE.TO - Dividend Comparison

SMAX.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 13.36%, more than CNQE.TO's 9.40% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
CNQE.TO Harvest CNQ Enhanced High Income Shares ETF	9.40%	4.42%	0.00%	0.00%
SMAX.TO Hamilton U.S. Equity YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF	13.36%	14.67%	13.88%	2.57%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SMAX.TO and CNQE.TO in my portfolio?

SMAX.TO and CNQE.TO have a correlation of -0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, SMAX.TO or CNQE.TO?

On fees, CNQE.TO is cheaper at 0.40% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, SMAX.TO or CNQE.TO?

CNQE.TO is cheaper with a 0.40% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for SMAX.TO.

What is the main difference between SMAX.TO and CNQE.TO?

They also come from different issuers: Hamilton Capital and Harvest. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for SMAX.TO and 0.40% for CNQE.TO.