Updated Reviewed quarterly
SMH vs SOXX: ETF Comparison
SMH · VanEck
TER 0.35% · Yield —
SOXX · iShares
TER 0.33% · Yield 0.3%
Both SMH and SOXX are US-listed and trigger FIF tax for NZ residents above the NZ$50,000 overseas-share threshold. The comparison is about exposure, fee, and strategy — both share the same NZ tax friction.
In 30 seconds: SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF, VanEck) trades on the NASDAQ at 0.35% TER. SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF, iShares) trades on the NASDAQ at 0.33% TER. Both SMH and SOXX are US-listed and trigger FIF tax for NZ residents above the NZ$50,000 overseas-share threshold. The comparison is about exposure, fee, and strategy — both share the same NZ tax friction.
- SMH: VanEck Semiconductor ETF — 0.35% TER, FIF above NZ$50K
- SOXX: iShares Semiconductor ETF — 0.33% TER, FIF above NZ$50K
- SMH yield: not currently published
- SOXX yield: 0.3% (Quarterly)
- Cheaper TER: SOXX
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | SMH | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Fund | VanEck Semiconductor ETF | iShares Semiconductor ETF |
| Issuer | VanEck | iShares |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Total expense ratio | 0.35% | 0.33% |
| Dividend yield (TTM) | — | 0.3% |
| Distribution frequency | Annual | Quarterly |
| NZ tax wrapper | FIF above NZ$50K | FIF above NZ$50K |
Where to buy
SMH trades on the NASDAQ — buy via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger and Interactive Brokers. SOXX trades on the NASDAQ — buy via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger and Interactive Brokers. See all 11 NZ investment platforms compared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SMH and SOXX?▾
SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) charges 0.35% TER vs SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) at 0.33%. SMH is from VanEck; SOXX is from iShares. Both SMH and SOXX are US-listed and trigger FIF tax for NZ residents above the NZ$50,000 overseas-share threshold. The comparison is about exposure, fee, and strategy — both share the same NZ tax friction.
Which has the lower fee, SMH or SOXX?▾
SOXX is cheaper at 0.33% TER vs SMH at 0.35% — a gap of 0.02 percentage points.
Which yields more, SMH or SOXX?▾
Yield data for at least one fund is not currently published — check the issuer fact sheet for the latest trailing 12-month yield. Headline yield is gross; after-tax outcome depends on your tax wrapper (FIF above NZ$50K for SMH, FIF above NZ$50K for SOXX).
Can NZ residents buy both SMH and SOXX?▾
Yes. SMH is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger and Interactive Brokers. SOXX is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger and Interactive Brokers.
How does NZ tax differ between SMH and SOXX?▾
SMH is FIF above NZ$50K. SOXX is FIF above NZ$50K. Same tax wrapper, no structural tax difference between the two for NZ residents. See /tax/pie-vs-fif/ for the full mechanics.
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