Dividend comparison
SOXQ vs XSD: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF and State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SOXQ vs XSD: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SOXQ is cheaper at 0.19% a year versus 0.35% for XSD. On $10,000 that is $16 a year less in fees.
- Income. SOXQ pays more income, yielding 0.33% over the last twelve months versus 0.17% for XSD. That is about $16 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SOXQ returned 246.6% versus 131.6% for XSD, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $34,662 in SOXQ and $23,158 in XSD.
- Risk. SOXQ has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -46.0%, against -42.3% for XSD.
- Diversification. XSD holds 47 positions and SOXQ holds 31. The ten largest positions make up 59.4% of SOXQ and 28.9% of XSD.
- Overlap. 40% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 21 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. XSD grew its yearly payout 37.2% a year over the last 3 years, versus 1.1% for SOXQ.
Bottom line: SOXQ fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns. XSD fits better if you care most about smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SOXQ Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF | XSD State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.33% | 0.17% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.29 | $0.80 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.0845 on Sep 25, 2026 | $0.1842 on Sep 23, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 1.1% over 3 yrs | 37.2% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $88.77 | $472.01 |
| Dividend growth streak | 1 year | 1 year |
| Beta | 2.19 | 2.68 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -46.0% | -42.3% |
| Market cap | $2.81B | $2.63B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.19% | 0.35% |
| Assets under management | $2.89B | $2.49B |
| Number of holdings | 31 | 47 |
| Top 10 concentration | 59.4% | 28.9% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SOXQ
$2.76/mo
$33 /yr at 0.33% yield
XSD
$1.42/mo
$17 /yr at 0.17% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SOXQ pays quarterly; XSD pays quarterly.
| Year | SOXQ | XSD |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.2795 | $0.8288 |
| 2024 | $0.2666 | $0.4911 |
| 2023 | $0.2863 | $0.7032 |
| 2022 | $0.2707 | $0.7386 |
| 2021 | — | $0.2341 |
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 $34,662 in SOXQ and $23,158 in XSD.
| Period | SOXQ | XSD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -5.34% | -6.81% |
| 3 months | -3.36% | -5.82% |
| Year to date | 59.17% | 46.96% |
| 1 year | 63.87% | 34.96% |
| 3 years | 244.60% | 165.58% |
| 5 years | 246.62% | 131.58% |
- SOXQ
- XSD
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.
- SOXQ
- XSD
SOXQ vs XSD holdings overlap
40% overlap by weight, with 21 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | SOXQ weight | XSD weight |
|---|---|---|
| ADIAnalog Devices Inc | 4.53% | 2.88% |
| TXNTexas Instruments Inc | 4.39% | 2.82% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 2.80% | 2.78% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.66% | 2.75% |
| NXPINXP Semiconductors NV | 2.72% | 2.75% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Inc | 4.46% | 2.69% |
| QCOMQUALCOMM Inc | 4.19% | 2.62% |
| NVDANVIDIA Corp | 12.07% | 2.59% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 9.20% | 2.45% |
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 7.60% | 2.35% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SOXQ31 holdings total
Quick verdict
SOXQ fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns. XSD fits better if you care most about smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is SOXQ or XSD better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SOXQ currently yields 0.33% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while XSD yields 0.17%. 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 SOXQ and XSD?
Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXQ) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SOXQ or XSD?
SOXQ has the lower expense ratio. SOXQ charges 0.19% a year and XSD charges 0.35%, a difference of $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SOXQ or XSD?
Over the last 5 years, SOXQ has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SOXQ returned 246.6% and XSD returned 131.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SOXQ or XSD?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SOXQ has been riskier: SOXQ fell as much as 46.0% and XSD as much as 42.3%. Their betas are 2.19 and 2.68.
How much do SOXQ and XSD overlap?
About 40% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 21 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are ADI, TXN, MPWR. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do SOXQ and XSD pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.0845 for SOXQ and $0.1842 for XSD.
How much income does $10,000 in SOXQ vs XSD generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SOXQ would generate roughly $2.76 per month ($33 annually). The same amount in XSD would produce about $1.42 per month ($17 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SOXQ and XSD?
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 SOXQ vs XSD with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SOXQ and XSD 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.