Updated Reviewed quarterly
SMH vs SOXX: ETF Comparison
SMH · VanEck
TER 0.35% · Yield 0.5%
SOXX · iShares
TER 0.35% · Yield 0.8%
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 0.35% 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 — 0.35% TER, FIF above NZ$50K
- SMH yield: 0.5% (Annual)
- SOXX yield: 0.8% (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% | 0.35% |
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Distribution frequency | Annual | Quarterly |
| NZ tax wrapper | FIF above NZ$50K | FIF above NZ$50K |
Where to buy
SMH trades on the NASDAQ. SOXX trades on the NASDAQ. Both are US-listed and accessible 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 0.35%. 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 0.35% TER vs SMH at 0.35% — a gap of 0.00 percentage points.
Which yields more, SMH or SOXX? ▾
SMH trailing 12-month yield is 0.5%; SOXX is 0.8%. 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 (NASDAQ) is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger, Interactive Brokers. SOXX (NASDAQ) is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger, IBKR.
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.
