SMH vs. SOXX: Which Semiconductor ETF Is the Smarter Chip Bet?

SMH and SOXX remain two of the most popular semiconductor ETFs, but they track different indexes and tilt toward different parts of the supply chain. SMH follows the MarketVector US Listed Semiconductor 10% Capped Screened Index. SOXX tracks the NYSE Semiconductor Index and leans toward equipment makers such as Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA, while SMH emphasizes mega-caps like NVIDIA and TSMC. Through June 9, 2026, SOXX up 86.78% YTD, SMH 64.11%. Over longer horizons, SMH led five-year gains (about 391% vs 307% for SOXX) and ten-year gains (2,148% vs 1,833%). The main difference is index composition, including ASML and TSMC weightings.