Dividend comparison

DRAM vs SMH: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Roundhill Memory ETF and VanEck Semiconductor ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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DRAM vs SMH: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. SMH is cheaper at 0.35% a year versus 0.65% for DRAM. On $10,000 that is $30 a year less in fees.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -44.4% for DRAM and -45.3% for SMH from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. SMH holds 26 positions and DRAM holds 14.
  • Size. SMH is the larger fund with $66.6 billion in assets, against $18.6 billion for DRAM.

Bottom line: SMH has the edge on these figures, with lower fees and broader diversification. DRAM does not lead on any of the measures compared here.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricDRAM
Roundhill Memory ETF
SMH
VanEck Semiconductor ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)—0.20%
Dividend / share (TTM)—$1.10
Payout frequency—Annual
Last dividend—$1.1047 on Dec 26, 2025
Ex-dividend date—Dec 22, 2025
Dividend growth (CAGR)—8.9% over 4 yrs
Price$47.72$546.36
Dividend growth streak—2 years
Beta9.201.98
Max drawdown (5Y)-44.4%-45.3%
Market cap$1.73B$65.69B
ExchangeCBOENASDAQ
Expense ratio0.65%0.35%
Assets under management$18.58B$66.62B
Number of holdings1426
Top 10 concentration—68.1%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

DRAM

—/mo

Yield data unavailable

SMH

$1.68/mo

$20 /yr at 0.20% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year.
YearDRAMSMH
2025—$1.1047
2024—$1.0713
2023—$1.0427
2022—$1.2005
2021—$0.7865
Strategy: Sector and thematic
Funds that hold a single industry or theme, such as technology, semiconductors, healthcare or energy. Funds covering the same sector can still differ in concentration rules: some cap the largest positions while others let the biggest companies take a quarter of the fund. Sector funds are usually used to tilt a portfolio rather than as its core.

A single sector can fall far further than the broad market and stay down for years, and the largest names often dominate the fund.

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Jun 22, 2026 would now be worth $5,912 in DRAM and $8,168 in SMH.
PeriodDRAMSMH
1 month-19.95%-4.65%
3 months-9.48%-2.23%
Year to date—51.71%
1 year—57.84%
3 years—289.73%
5 years—322.58%
  • DRAM
  • SMH
527810420265982

Both series indexed to 100 on 2026-06-22 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • DRAM
  • SMH
0%25%50%75%100%Technology100.0%100.0%Cash & Others40.0%0.0%Financial Services0.0%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

SMH26 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANvidia Corp20.42%
TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co L9.45%
AVGOBroadcom Inc5.49%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc5.43%
TXNTexas Instruments Inc4.99%
MUMicron Technology Inc4.63%
ASMLAsml Holding Nv4.51%
ADIAnalog Devices Inc4.47%
MRVLMarvell Technology Inc4.45%
KLACKla Corp4.30%

Quick verdict

SMH has the edge on these figures, with lower fees and broader diversification. DRAM does not lead on any of the measures compared here. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is DRAM or SMH better for dividend income?
Compare yield, payout sustainability, and how each fund or stock fits your income goals. Use Dividend Wealth to model both holdings inside a real portfolio forecast.
What is the difference between DRAM and SMH?
Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) is an ETF listed on CBOE. VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, DRAM or SMH?
SMH has the lower expense ratio. DRAM charges 0.65% a year and SMH charges 0.35%, a difference of $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, DRAM or SMH?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SMH has been riskier: DRAM fell as much as 44.4% and SMH as much as 45.3%. Their betas are 9.20 and 1.98.
Can I hold both DRAM and SMH?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare DRAM vs SMH with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how DRAM and SMH fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.