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WQDS.L vs. SMH.L
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

WQDS.L (iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF USD (Dist)) and SMH.L (VanEck Semiconductor UCITS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - WQDS.L is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI World High Dividend Yield ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select Index, while SMH.L is a Semiconductors fund tracking the MarketVector US Listed Semiconductor 10% Capped Screened Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, WQDS.L returned 13.14%/yr vs 38.70%/yr for SMH.L. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. WQDS.L charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for SMH.L.

Performance

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (WQDS.L) and VanEck Semiconductor UCITS ETF (SMH.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Different Trading Currencies

WQDS.L is traded in GBp, while SMH.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the SMH.L values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, WQDS.L achieves a 16.14% return, which is significantly lower than SMH.L's 95.82% return.

WQDS.L

1D
0.32%
1M
2.12%
YTD
16.14%
6M
16.66%
1Y
33.85%
3Y*
17.66%
5Y*
13.14%
10Y*
—

SMH.L

1D
1.96%
1M
11.22%
YTD
95.82%
6M
96.78%
1Y
167.51%
3Y*
60.11%
5Y*
38.70%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020
WQDS.L
iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF USD (Dist)		16.14%15.54%11.68%10.80%4.05%17.47%0.30%
SMH.L
VanEck Semiconductor UCITS ETF		95.82%38.57%26.28%67.15%-27.87%44.10%2.52%

Correlation

The correlation between WQDS.L and SMH.L is 0.57, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.57

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.60

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.58

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 1, 2020

0.56

The correlation between WQDS.L and SMH.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.56 to 0.60 - a consistent structural relationship.

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
WQDS.L
SMH.L

Technology

37.3%
100.0%

Financial Services

16.0%

-

Healthcare

13.5%

-

Industrials

9.5%

-

Consumer Cyclical

5.9%

-

Communication Services

5.5%

-

Consumer Defensive

4.1%

-

Energy

3.2%

-

Utilities

2.9%

-

Real Estate

1.1%

-

Basic Materials

1.0%

-

Technology

WQDS.L
37.3%
SMH.L
100.0%

Financial Services

WQDS.L
16.0%
SMH.L

-

Healthcare

WQDS.L
13.5%
SMH.L

-

Industrials

WQDS.L
9.5%
SMH.L

-

Consumer Cyclical

WQDS.L
5.9%
SMH.L

-

Communication Services

WQDS.L
5.5%
SMH.L

-

Consumer Defensive

WQDS.L
4.1%
SMH.L

-

Energy

WQDS.L
3.2%
SMH.L

-

Utilities

WQDS.L
2.9%
SMH.L

-

Real Estate

WQDS.L
1.1%
SMH.L

-

Basic Materials

WQDS.L
1.0%
SMH.L

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF USD (Dist)

VanEck Semiconductor UCITS ETF

Often compared with WQDS.L:
WQDS.L vs. PSRE.LWQDS.L vs. FGQD.LWQDS.L vs. VGWD.DEWQDS.L vs. TDGB.LWQDS.L vs. IS3Q.DEWQDS.L vs. NQSE.DEWQDS.L vs. UDVD.L
Often compared with SMH.L:
SMH.L vs. AINF.LSMH.L vs. VWRL.LSMH.L vs. VHVG.LSMH.L vs. SMGB.LSMH.L vs. SMT.LSMH.L vs. VWRA.LSMH.L vs. WQDV.L

Return for Risk

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
WQDS.L
WQDS.L Risk / Return Rank: 9393
Overall Rank
WQDS.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9595
Sharpe Ratio Rank
WQDS.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 9595
Sortino Ratio Rank
WQDS.L Omega Ratio Rank: 9494
Omega Ratio Rank
WQDS.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 9191
Calmar Ratio Rank
WQDS.L Martin Ratio Rank: 9191
Martin Ratio Rank
SMH.L
SMH.L Risk / Return Rank: 9797
Overall Rank
SMH.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9898
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SMH.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 9696
Sortino Ratio Rank
SMH.L Omega Ratio Rank: 9494
Omega Ratio Rank
SMH.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 9898
Calmar Ratio Rank
SMH.L Martin Ratio Rank: 9797
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (WQDS.L) and VanEck Semiconductor UCITS ETF (SMH.L). 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.

WQDS.LSMH.LDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
3.24
4.94

-1.71

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
4.61
5.03

-0.41

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.61

1.65

-0.05

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

4.99

13.61

-8.62

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

18.57

45.15

-26.57

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current WQDS.L Sharpe Ratio is 3.24, which is lower than the SMH.L Sharpe Ratio of 4.94. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of WQDS.L and SMH.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum WQDS.L drawdown since its inception was -27.90%, smaller than the maximum SMH.L drawdown of -36.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WQDS.L and SMH.L.

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Drawdown Indicators

WQDS.LSMH.LDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-27.90%

-36.36%

+8.46%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-6.75%

-12.23%

+5.48%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.93%

-36.36%

+21.43%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-14.93%

-36.36%

+21.43%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.14%

-3.80%

+3.66%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.81%

-9.76%

+1.95%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.82%

3.69%

-1.87%

Volatility

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (WQDS.L) is 2.60%, while VanEck Semiconductor UCITS ETF (SMH.L) has a volatility of 13.95%. This indicates that WQDS.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMH.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

WQDS.LSMH.LDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

2.60%

13.95%

-11.35%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

7.91%

27.08%

-19.17%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

10.43%

33.68%

-23.25%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

11.58%

31.75%

-20.17%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

14.99%

31.33%

-16.34%

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

WQDS.L has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is higher than SMH.L's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

WQDS.L vs. SMH.L - Dividend Comparison

WQDS.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.13%, while SMH.L has not paid dividends to shareholders.

PositionTTM202520242023202220212020201920182017
SMH.L
VanEck Semiconductor UCITS ETF		0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
WQDS.L
iShares MSCI World Quality Dividend ESG UCITS ETF USD (Dist)		2.13%2.34%2.56%2.86%2.97%2.70%3.03%3.10%3.19%0.79%

Frequently Asked Questions

WQDS.L and SMH.L have a correlation of 0.57, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, SMH.L is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

SMH.L is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.38% for WQDS.L.

WQDS.L is categorized as Global Equities, while SMH.L is Semiconductors. WQDS.L tracks MSCI World High Dividend Yield ESG Reduced Carbon Target Select Index, while SMH.L tracks MarketVector US Listed Semiconductor 10% Capped Screened Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for WQDS.L and 0.35% for SMH.L.

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