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ETF Comparison

CHPS vs SMH: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Xtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETF and VanEck Semiconductor ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 13, 2026

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricCHPSSMH
Full nameXtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETFVanEck Semiconductor ETF
IssuerDWSVanEck
Last Close$86.39 as of August 13, 2026$584.83 as of August 13, 2026
Distribution yield0.31%0.19%
Distribution Safety Score™ 8793
Expense ratio0.15%0.35%
AUM$106M$71.5B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyAnnual
Underlying index—MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index
Objective—Track the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date07/12/202312/20/2011
Beta2.462.05
Last dividend$0.0680$1.1050
Ex-dividend date06/18/202612/22/2025

Bottom lineCHPS and SMH are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: CHPS is cheaper at 0.15% vs 0.35%.

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DWS
ETFs37
Total AUM$32.5B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

DWS is known for offering specialized ETFs through its Xtrackers family, focusing primarily on fixed-income and alternative income strategies. Its lineup of seven funds emphasizes high-yield bonds, covered call strategies, and emerging market exposures, with popular tickers including BHYB (Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF) and HYLB (High Yield Limited Duration Bond ETF). The issuer carves out a niche in the ETF space by combining traditional fixed-income products with options-based income strategies, appealing to investors seeking enhanced yield in various market environments.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on CHPS.

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VanEck
ETFs84
Total AUM$161B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

VanEck is known for offering specialized and thematic ETFs across diverse asset classes, including commodities, digital assets, and sector-specific investments. The firm's 22-fund lineup spans income-generating options, covered call strategies, and growth-focused equity funds, with popular tickers including GDX (gold miners), SMH (semiconductors), MOAT (competitive advantage stocks), and HODL (bitcoin). VanEck distinguishes itself through niche exposure areas such as digital assets, commodities, and thematic investing strategies, complemented by traditional bond and municipal bond offerings.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SMH.

See all VanEck ETFs

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

CHPS has outpaced SMH over the trailing twelve months, posting a 151.82% total return against 99.95%. The picture flips over 3 years, though — SMH has compounded at 57.99% a year, ahead of CHPS at 54.37%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3YSince Jul 2023Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
CHPS75.67%151.82%54.37%49.70%37.6%1.041.50-39.4%
SMH56.66%99.95%57.99%53.49%36.8%1.131.61-35.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 12, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jul 2023” measures every fund from July 13, 2023 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Quick verdict

CHPS (Xtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETF) and SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

CHPS offers the higher yield at 0.31% vs 0.19% for SMH. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

CHPS is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.15% compared to 0.35%.

SMH is the larger fund by assets ($71.5B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose CHPS

Xtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETF

  • Want broad equity exposure.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.15% expense ratio vs 0.35% for SMH.

Choose SMH

VanEck Semiconductor ETF

  • Want broad equity exposure.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 2.0 vs 2.5 for CHPS.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, CHPS would generate roughly $2.58/month, while SMH would produce $1.58/month, at current distribution rates.

CHPS yield0.31%
SMH yield0.19%
Monthly diff on $10K$1.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, CHPS would cost approximately $150 in fees vs $350 for SMH (simplified, not compounded). The $200.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

CHPS ER0.15%
SMH ER0.35%

Strategy & risk

CHPS is an ETF, while SMH tracks MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index with a technology approach. Beta is 2.46 for CHPS and 2.05 for SMH, indicating SMH is less volatile relative to the market.

CHPS beta2.46
SMH beta2.05

Fund details

CHPS is managed by DWS (launched 07/12/2023) with $106M in assets. SMH is managed by VanEck (launched 12/20/2011) with $71.5B in assets.

CHPS AUM$106M
SMH AUM$71.5B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for CHPS and SMH?

CHPS currently distributes 0.31% and SMH 0.19%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is CHPS or SMH better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. CHPS currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between CHPS and SMH?

CHPS (Xtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETF) is an ETF, while SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) tracks MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index with a technology approach. They are issued by DWS and VanEck respectively.

Can I hold both CHPS and SMH?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is CHPS or SMH safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SMH scores 93, CHPS scores 87, so SMH's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. SMH has also shown lower price volatility (beta 2.05 vs 2.46 for CHPS). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, CHPS or SMH?

CHPS has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SMH charges 0.35%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in CHPS vs SMH generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in CHPS would generate roughly $2.58 per month ($31.00 annually). The same in SMH would produce about $1.58 per month ($19.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, CHPS or SMH?

CHPS has outpaced SMH over the trailing twelve months, posting a 151.82% total return against 99.95%. The picture flips over 3 years, though — SMH has compounded at 57.99% a year, ahead of CHPS at 54.37%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

CHPS vs SMH — at a glance

Generated August 8, 2026.

Overview

CHPS and SMH are both semiconductor-focused equity ETFs, but they differ sharply in scale, track record, and volatility profile. SMH is the established $71.5B VanEck flagship that tracks the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index and dates to 2011; CHPS is a much newer $106M DWS product from July 2023 with higher beta and a lower expense ratio. Both aim to capture semiconductor sector upside, but through different selection strategies and investor bases.

How they differ

SMH tracks a named 25-stock index, while CHPS uses a "select equity" approach—a less transparent methodology that DWS doesn't detail in the provided data. SMH has been in operation for over a decade and manages $71.5B in assets; CHPS arrived in mid-2023 with $106M. The bigger structural gap: CHPS carries a beta of 2.46 versus SMH's 1.98, meaning CHPS amplifies semiconductor sector moves by roughly 24% more than SMH does. On cost, CHPS charges 0.15% versus SMH's 0.35%, though that advantage matters less when AUM and liquidity differ by three orders of magnitude. Distribution yields are both minimal—0.19% for SMH and 0.32% for CHPS—making income secondary in both cases.

Who each is best for

CHPS: Fits investors seeking concentrated semiconductor exposure with higher sensitivity to sector swings and who are comfortable with a newer fund that hasn't weathered a full market cycle or economic downturn.

SMH: Designed for long-term semiconductor allocators who value a well-established track record, deep liquidity, an explicit index methodology, and modest cost for the strategy—even if the expense ratio is higher than newer competitors.

Key risks to know

  • Selection opacity on CHPS. DWS's "select equity" approach is not defined in the fund prospectus summary provided, leaving investors unable to verify what drives stock inclusion or how it differs from SMH's transparent index rules.
  • Beta asymmetry. CHPS's 2.46 beta means it will magnify both upside and downside moves in semiconductors. In a sector downturn, CHPS could decline 46% more than a 1.0-beta baseline, while SMH at 1.98 would fall roughly 40% more. This amplification can erode capital during extended weakness.
  • Liquidity and tracking risk. CHPS's $106M AUM versus SMH's $71.5B creates meaningful difference in spreads, creation/redemption efficiency, and ability to rebalance without market impact. Newer funds also face closure risk if assets don't grow.
  • Concentration in a cyclical subsector. Both ETFs are pure semiconductor plays with no diversification outside the industry. Semiconductor stocks are cyclical and sensitive to chip cycle downturns, capacity announcements, and geopolitical supply-chain disruption.

Bottom line

SMH offers a proven index framework and institutional scale; CHPS promises lower fees and higher beta sensitivity, but with a newer track record and an opaque selection process. If you prioritize transparency, liquidity, and a long operating history, SMH's structural advantages likely carry weight. If you're confident in a strong semiconductor cycle and want to minimize costs while accepting higher volatility and less established liquidity, CHPS's beta and expense ratio may align with your risk tolerance. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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