WRB vs. SMH
WRB (W. R. Berkley Corporation) is a stock, while SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) is Semiconductors fund tracking the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. Over the past 10 years, WRB returned 18.32%/yr vs 34.16%/yr for SMH. Their 0.27 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
WRB vs. SMH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WRB achieves a 5.59% return, which is significantly lower than SMH's 50.09% return. Over the past 10 years, WRB has underperformed SMH with an annualized return of 18.32%, while SMH has yielded a comparatively higher 34.16% annualized return.
WRB
- 1D
- -1.14%
- 1M
- 0.64%
- 6M
- 7.96%
- YTD
- 5.59%
- 1Y
- 8.76%
- 3Y*
- 24.47%
- 5Y*
- 20.49%
- 10Y*
- 18.32%
- ALL TIME*
- 16.33%
SMH
- 1D
- 0.30%
- 1M
- -8.74%
- 6M
- 33.97%
- YTD
- 50.09%
- 1Y
- 90.95%
- 3Y*
- 50.56%
- 5Y*
- 33.46%
- 10Y*
- 34.16%
- ALL TIME*
- 11.06%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8.28B | $7.64B | $7.07B | |
| $146.36M | $145.89M | $144.62M |
WRB vs. SMH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WRB W. R. Berkley Corporation | 5.59% | 23.02% | 27.19% | 0.25% | 33.92% | 27.39% | -3.14% | 43.80% | 5.96% | 10.21% |
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 50.09% | 49.17% | 39.10% | 73.38% | -33.53% | 42.13% | 55.53% | 64.45% | -9.05% | 38.48% |
Correlation
The correlation between WRB and SMH is -0.33, meaning they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. This relationship can weaken or reverse as market conditions change.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | -0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | -0.13 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.03 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.14 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 5, 2000 | 0.27 |
The correlation between WRB and SMH shifts across timeframes, from -0.33 (1 year) to 0.27 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
WRB vs. SMH — Risk / Return Rank
WRB
SMH
WRB vs. SMH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) 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.
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.
| WRB | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.87 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.36 | -0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.54 | 3.58 | -3.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.02 | 14.64 | -13.62 |
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Drawdowns
WRB vs. SMH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WRB drawdown since its inception was -69.33%, smaller than the maximum SMH drawdown of -84.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WRB and SMH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WRB | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.33% | -84.96% | +15.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.62% | -24.62% | +7.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.62% | -35.74% | +18.12% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.29% | -45.30% | +19.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.35% | -45.30% | -0.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.77% | -19.19% | +14.42% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.55% | -40.89% | +26.34% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.30% | 6.01% | +3.29% |
Volatility
WRB vs. SMH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) is 7.84%, while VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has a volatility of 14.70%. This indicates that WRB 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
| WRB | SMH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.84% | 14.70% | -6.86% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.31% | 33.13% | -16.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.31% | 38.57% | -16.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.90% | 36.50% | -13.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.63% | 33.32% | -8.69% |
Dividends
WRB vs. SMH - Dividend Comparison
WRB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.54%, more than SMH's 0.20% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.20% | 0.31% | 0.44% | 0.60% | 1.18% | 0.51% | 0.69% | 1.50% | 1.88% | 1.43% | 0.80% | 2.14% |
WRB W. R. Berkley Corporation | 3.54% | 2.64% | 2.39% | 2.73% | 1.22% | 2.44% | 0.71% | 2.43% | 2.83% | 2.16% | 2.27% | 0.86% |
Frequently Asked Questions
WRB and SMH have a correlation of -0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SMH has higher volatility (14.70%) compared to WRB (7.84%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WRB dropped -69.33% vs SMH's -84.96%.
SMH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.29 vs 0.43), 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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