SMH vs. AXP
SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) is Semiconductors fund tracking the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, while AXP (American Express Company) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, SMH returned 37.49%/yr vs 19.88%/yr for AXP. At a 0.48 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
SMH vs. AXP - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SMH achieves a 72.15% return, which is significantly higher than AXP's -11.56% return. Over the past 10 years, SMH has outperformed AXP with an annualized return of 37.49%, while AXP has yielded a comparatively lower 19.88% annualized return.
SMH
- 1D
- 1.72%
- 1M
- 11.44%
- YTD
- 72.15%
- 6M
- 75.62%
- 1Y
- 141.99%
- 3Y*
- 60.05%
- 5Y*
- 38.42%
- 10Y*
- 37.49%
AXP
- 1D
- 2.18%
- 1M
- 3.82%
- YTD
- -11.56%
- 6M
- -14.47%
- 1Y
- 14.27%
- 3Y*
- 24.40%
- 5Y*
- 16.02%
- 10Y*
- 19.88%
SMH vs. AXP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 72.15% | 49.17% | 39.10% | 73.38% | -33.53% | 42.13% | 55.53% | 64.45% | -9.05% | 38.48% |
AXP American Express Company | -11.56% | 25.99% | 60.32% | 28.67% | -8.52% | 36.88% | -1.14% | 32.52% | -2.62% | 36.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between SMH and AXP is 0.26, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 5, 2000 | 0.48 |
Over the past year, the correlation between SMH and AXP has dropped to 0.26 - well below their long-term average of 0.48, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
SMH vs. AXP — Risk / Return Rank
SMH
AXP
SMH vs. AXP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) and American Express Company (AXP). 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.
| SMH | AXP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +3.74 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.60 | 1.09 | +0.51 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 9.18 | 0.44 | +8.75 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 33.74 | 0.93 | +32.81 |
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Drawdowns
SMH vs. AXP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SMH drawdown since its inception was -84.96%, roughly equal to the maximum AXP drawdown of -83.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMH and AXP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SMH | AXP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -84.96% | -83.91% | -1.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.93% | -23.90% | +8.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -35.74% | -28.76% | -6.98% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -45.30% | -31.55% | -13.75% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.30% | -49.64% | +4.34% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.81% | -14.99% | +12.18% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -41.04% | -22.05% | -18.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.06% | 11.15% | -7.09% |
Volatility
SMH vs. AXP - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has a higher volatility of 16.25% compared to American Express Company (AXP) at 6.90%. This indicates that SMH's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AXP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SMH | AXP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 16.25% | 6.90% | +9.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 27.73% | 20.01% | +7.72% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 33.20% | 26.46% | +6.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 35.47% | 29.50% | +5.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 32.82% | 31.83% | +0.99% |
Dividends
SMH vs. AXP - Dividend Comparison
SMH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.18%, less than AXP's 1.05% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AXP American Express Company | 1.05% | 0.85% | 0.91% | 1.24% | 1.35% | 1.05% | 1.42% | 1.29% | 1.51% | 1.32% | 1.61% | 1.58% |
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
SMH and AXP have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SMH has higher volatility (16.25%) compared to AXP (6.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SMH dropped -84.96% vs AXP's -83.91%.
SMH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.13 vs 0.39), 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.
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