Dividend comparison
SMH vs IGV: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for VanEck Semiconductor ETF and iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SMH vs IGV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SMH is cheaper at 0.35% a year versus 0.38% for IGV. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
- Income. SMH pays more income, yielding 0.20% over the last twelve months versus 0.02% for IGV. That is about $19 more a year on $10,000. Both pay annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SMH returned 322.6% versus 24.0% for IGV, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $42,258 in SMH and $12,396 in IGV.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -45.3% for SMH and -45.8% for IGV from peak to trough.
- Diversification. IGV holds 106 positions and SMH holds 26. The ten largest positions make up 68.1% of SMH and 60.2% of IGV.
- Overlap. 4% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 2 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Size. SMH is the larger fund with $66.6 billion in assets, against $14.0 billion for IGV.
Bottom line: SMH fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns. IGV fits better if you care most about broader diversification.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF | IGV iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.20% | 0.02% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.10 | $0.02 |
| Payout frequency | Annual | Annual |
| Last dividend | $1.1047 on Dec 26, 2025 | $0.0168 on Jun 18, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Dec 22, 2025 | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 8.9% over 4 yrs | — |
| Price | $546.36 | $106.93 |
| Dividend growth streak | 2 years | 1 year |
| Beta | 1.98 | 1.20 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -45.3% | -45.8% |
| Market cap | $65.69B | $14.45B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | CBOE |
| Expense ratio | 0.35% | 0.38% |
| Assets under management | $66.62B | $14.00B |
| Number of holdings | 26 | 106 |
| Top 10 concentration | 68.1% | 60.2% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SMH
$1.68/mo
$20 /yr at 0.20% yield
IGV
$0.13/mo
$2 /yr at 0.02% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SMH pays annual; IGV pays annual.
| Year | SMH | IGV |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $42,258 in SMH and $12,396 in IGV.
| Period | SMH | IGV |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -4.65% | 2.47% |
| 3 months | -2.23% | 15.00% |
| Year to date | 51.71% | 1.19% |
| 1 year | 57.84% | -6.09% |
| 3 years | 289.73% | 57.85% |
| 5 years | 322.58% | 23.96% |
- SMH
- IGV
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 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.
- SMH
- IGV
SMH vs IGV holdings overlap
4% overlap by weight, with 2 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SMH26 holdings total
Quick verdict
SMH fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns. IGV fits better if you care most about broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how SMH vs IGV fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is SMH or IGV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SMH currently yields 0.20% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while IGV yields 0.02%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between SMH and IGV?
VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) is an ETF listed on CBOE. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SMH or IGV?
SMH has the lower expense ratio. SMH charges 0.35% a year and IGV charges 0.38%, a difference of $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SMH or IGV?
Over the last 5 years, SMH has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SMH returned 322.6% and IGV returned 24.0%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SMH or IGV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, IGV has been riskier: SMH fell as much as 45.3% and IGV as much as 45.8%. Their betas are 1.98 and 1.20.
How much do SMH and IGV overlap?
About 4% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 2 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are CDNS, SNPS. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do SMH and IGV pay dividends?
Both pay annual. The most recent payments were $1.1047 for SMH and $0.0168 for IGV.
How much income does $10,000 in SMH vs IGV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SMH would generate roughly $1.68 per month ($20 annually). The same amount in IGV would produce about $0.13 per month ($2 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SMH and IGV?
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 SMH vs IGV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SMH and IGV 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.