VGT vs. SMH
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH).
VGT and SMH are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VGT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index. It was launched on Mar 25, 2004. 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 VGT 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
VGT vs. SMH - Performance Comparison
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VGT vs. SMH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGT Vanguard Information Technology ETF | -7.34% | 21.77% | 29.30% | 52.66% | -29.70% | 30.45% | 46.04% | 48.62% | 2.46% | 37.08% |
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 6.46% | 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, VGT achieves a -7.34% return, which is significantly lower than SMH's 6.46% return. Over the past 10 years, VGT has underperformed SMH with an annualized return of 21.35%, while SMH has yielded a comparatively higher 31.28% annualized return.
VGT
- 1D
- 4.34%
- 1M
- -3.89%
- YTD
- -7.34%
- 6M
- -6.36%
- 1Y
- 29.19%
- 3Y*
- 22.58%
- 5Y*
- 14.54%
- 10Y*
- 21.35%
SMH
- 1D
- 5.76%
- 1M
- -5.65%
- YTD
- 6.46%
- 6M
- 17.84%
- 1Y
- 81.87%
- 3Y*
- 43.47%
- 5Y*
- 25.59%
- 10Y*
- 31.28%
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VGT vs. SMH - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGT has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than SMH's 0.35% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VGT vs. SMH — Risk / Return Rank
VGT
SMH
VGT vs. SMH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) 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.
| VGT | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.08 | 2.23 | -1.16 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.65 | 2.85 | -1.20 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.40 | -0.17 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.77 | 5.10 | -3.33 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.47 | 18.29 | -12.82 |
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
| VGT | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.08 | 2.23 | -1.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.74 | -0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.88 | 0.97 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.61 | 0.28 | +0.33 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGT and SMH is 0.85, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VGT vs. SMH - Dividend Comparison
VGT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.44%, more than SMH's 0.29% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGT Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 0.44% | 0.40% | 0.60% | 0.65% | 0.91% | 0.64% | 0.82% | 1.11% | 1.29% | 0.99% | 1.31% | 1.28% |
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.29% | 0.31% | 0.44% | 0.60% | 1.18% | 0.51% | 0.69% | 1.50% | 1.88% | 1.43% | 0.80% | 2.14% |
Drawdowns
VGT vs. SMH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGT drawdown since its inception was -54.63%, smaller than the maximum SMH drawdown of -84.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGT and SMH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGT | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.63% | -84.96% | +30.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.40% | -15.95% | -0.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.07% | -45.30% | +10.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.07% | -45.30% | +10.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.77% | -10.03% | -2.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.00% | -41.36% | +33.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.30% | 4.44% | +0.86% |
Volatility
VGT vs. SMH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) is 7.99%, while VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has a volatility of 12.11%. This indicates that VGT 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
| VGT | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.99% | 12.11% | -4.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.31% | 23.95% | -7.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.24% | 36.84% | -9.60% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.07% | 34.71% | -9.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.48% | 32.28% | -7.80% |