SMH vs. PANW

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) is Semiconductors fund tracking the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, while PANW (Palo Alto Networks, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, SMH returned 36.92%/yr vs 28.39%/yr for PANW. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

SMH vs. PANW - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SMH achieves a 66.10% return, which is significantly higher than PANW's 44.59% return. Over the past 10 years, SMH has outperformed PANW with an annualized return of 36.92%, while PANW has yielded a comparatively lower 28.39% annualized return.

SMH

• 1D: 5.00%
• 1M: 5.58%
• YTD: 66.10%
• 6M: 62.81%
• 1Y: 137.42%
• 3Y*: 60.43%
• 5Y*: 37.89%
• 10Y*: 36.92%

PANW

• 1D: -2.10%
• 1M: 28.12%
• YTD: 44.59%
• 6M: 36.33%
• 1Y: 33.43%
• 3Y*: 34.26%
• 5Y*: 35.30%
• 10Y*: 28.39%

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

SMH vs. PANW - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF	66.10%	49.17%	39.10%	73.38%	-33.53%	42.13%	55.53%	64.45%	-9.05%	38.48%
PANW Palo Alto Networks, Inc.	44.59%	1.23%	23.41%	111.32%	-24.81%	56.66%	53.68%	22.78%	29.95%	15.91%

Correlation

The correlation between SMH and PANW is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.17
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.36
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.45
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.46
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2012	0.44

Over the past year, the correlation between SMH and PANW has dropped to 0.17 - well below their long-term average of 0.44, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

SMH vs. PANW — Risk / Return Rank

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

SMH

SMH Risk / Return Rank: 96
SMH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
SMH Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
SMH Omega Ratio Rank: 94
SMH Calmar Ratio Rank: 97
SMH Martin Ratio Rank: 96

PANW

PANW Risk / Return Rank: 64
PANW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 70
PANW Sortino Ratio Rank: 64
PANW Omega Ratio Rank: 63
PANW Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
PANW Martin Ratio Rank: 62

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.

SMH vs. PANW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW). 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.

	SMH	PANW	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	4.27	0.87	+3.40
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.33	1.35	+2.99
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.62	1.18	+0.44
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	9.26	0.93	+8.33
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	34.80	2.12	+32.68
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SMH vs. PANW - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SMH Sharpe Ratio is 4.27, which is higher than the PANW Sharpe Ratio of 0.87. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SMH and PANW, 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

	SMH	PANW	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.27	0.87	+3.40
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.08	0.85	+0.23
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	1.13	0.74	+0.39
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.33	0.71	-0.38

Drawdowns

SMH vs. PANW - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SMH drawdown since its inception was -84.96%, which is greater than PANW's maximum drawdown of -47.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMH and PANW.

Drawdown Indicators

	SMH	PANW	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-84.96%	-47.98%	-36.98%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.93%	-36.01%	+21.08%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-35.74%	-36.01%	+0.27%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-45.30%	-36.01%	-9.29%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-45.30%	-47.98%	+2.68%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.23%	-11.37%	+5.14%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-41.07%	-14.69%	-26.38%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.96%	15.82%	-11.86%

Volatility

SMH vs. PANW - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is 15.45%, while Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) has a volatility of 17.10%. This indicates that SMH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PANW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SMH	PANW	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	15.45%	17.10%	-1.65%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	26.71%	31.83%	-5.12%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	32.42%	38.54%	-6.12%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	35.32%	41.65%	-6.33%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	32.75%	38.59%	-5.84%

Dividends

SMH vs. PANW - Dividend Comparison

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

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PANW Palo Alto Networks, Inc.	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 SMH and PANW in my portfolio?

SMH and PANW have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SMH or PANW?

PANW has higher volatility (17.10%) compared to SMH (15.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SMH dropped -84.96% vs PANW's -47.98%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SMH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.27 vs 0.87), 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.