FTXL
Caution
High confidence
ETF Comparison
FTXL vs SOXX: Same Industry, Two Semi Indexes
A head-to-head of First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor and iShares Semiconductor covering construction, fees, and overlap.
Updated November 6, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- FTXLInvestors who want targeted semiconductor exposure and accept its concentration.
- SOXXInvestors who want targeted semiconductor exposure and accept its concentration.
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
SOXX
Elevated risk
High confidence
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  FTXL |  SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | iShares Semiconductor ETF |
| Issuer | First Trust | iShares |
| Last Close | $185.02 as of November 6, 2026 | $136.53 as of November 6, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 0.08% | 0.32% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 0.09% | 0.31% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 44 | 35 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 0.04% | 0.11% |
| Expense ratio | 0.60% | 0.33% |
| AUM | $1.06B | $44.3B |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | ICE Semiconductor Index |
| Objective | — | Tracks the ICE Semiconductor Index of US-listed semiconductor companies. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 09/20/2016 | 07/10/2001 |
| Beta | 2.34 | 2.41 |
| Last dividend | $0.036 | $0.10833 |
| Ex-dividend date | 06/25/2026 | 09/15/2026 |
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
FTXL has outpaced SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 40.53% total return against -56.68%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: FTXL has compounded at 25.31% a year, against 14.86% for SOXX. FTXL has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 42.0% against 81.9% for SOXX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Sep 2016 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTXL | 37.39% | 40.53% | 38.75% | 18.99% | 25.31% | 24.72% | 42.0% | 0.69 | 0.95 | -41.6% |
| SOXX | -56.12% | -56.68% | -5.38% | -4.46% | 14.86% | 14.58% | 81.9% | -0.12 | -0.13 | -79.8% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Sep 2016” measures every fund from September 21, 2016 — the start of shared available history — 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.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineFTXL and SOXX are both for investors who want targeted semiconductor exposure and accept its concentration — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: SOXX charges 0.33% against 0.60% for FTXL, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.
FTXL vs SOXX: two semiconductor indexes
Same industry, different construction. Compare holdings and cost, not a near-zero yield gap.
| FTXL | SOXX | |
|---|---|---|
| Index | ICE Semiconductor Index | |
| Expense ratio | 0.60% | 0.33% |
| Fund size | $1.06B | $44.3B |
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs329
Total AUM$290B
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
First Trust is known for offering a diverse lineup of actively and passively managed ETFs across multiple investment styles and asset classes. Their fund families span income-focused strategies including dividend and covered call approaches, as well as thematic, factor-based, alternatives, and sector-specific offerings that appeal to different investor objectives. The issuer provides breadth across allocation, bond, buffer, commodities, and municipal fund categories, making them a comprehensive provider serving various portfolio construction and income-generation needs.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on FTXL.
ETFs468
Total AUM$4.63T
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SOXX.
Quick verdict
FTXL (First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF) and SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
SOXX offers the higher yield at 0.32% vs 0.08% for FTXL. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
SOXX is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.33% compared to 0.60%.
SOXX is the larger fund by assets ($44.3B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Top-holdings overlap
Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.
8 shared positions
FTXL 52.0% of its top-10 weight
SOXX 52.2% of its top-10 weight
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, FTXL would pay about $8.00 a year (about $2.00 per quarterly distribution), while SOXX would pay about $32.00 a year (about $8.00 per quarterly distribution). Both pay quarterly distributions.
FTXL yield0.08%
SOXX yield0.32%
Annual cash diff on $10K$24.00
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, FTXL would cost approximately $600 in fees vs $330 for SOXX (simplified, not compounded). The $270.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
FTXL ER0.60%
SOXX ER0.33%
Strategy & risk
FTXL is an ETF built around technology exposure, while SOXX tracks ICE Semiconductor Index. Beta is 2.34 for FTXL and 2.41 for SOXX, making FTXL the less sensitive to market moves of the two by this measure.
FTXL beta2.34
SOXX beta2.41
Fund details
FTXL is managed by First Trust (launched 09/20/2016) with $1.06B in assets. SOXX is managed by iShares (launched 07/10/2001) with $44.3B in assets.
FTXL AUM$1.06B
SOXX AUM$44.3B
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FTXL and SOXX?
Both are semiconductor equity funds with different indexes. FTXL (First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF) is First Trust's Nasdaq semiconductor sleeve. SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) tracks ICE Semiconductor Index. Cost is 0.60% versus 0.33%; size is $1.06B versus $44.3B. Distributions are 0.08% and 0.32% as of November 2026. Compare holdings overlap, not a near-zero yield gap.
What is the current distribution rate for FTXL and SOXX?
FTXL currently distributes 0.08% and SOXX 0.32%, based on fund data updated November 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is FTXL or SOXX better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SOXX 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.
Can I hold both FTXL and SOXX?
You can, but expect meaningful overlap: 8 of the disclosed top-10 positions are shared (see the holdings-overlap section above). Holding both may double up on the same underlying names rather than diversify.
Is FTXL or SOXX safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — FTXL scores 44, SOXX scores 35, so FTXL's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
Which has lower fees, FTXL or SOXX?
FTXL has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SOXX charges 0.33%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in FTXL vs SOXX generate?
At current distribution rates, $10,000 in FTXL would pay about $8.00 a year (about $2.00 per quarterly distribution). $10,000 in SOXX would pay about $32.00 a year (about $8.00 per quarterly distribution).
Which has performed better historically, FTXL or SOXX?
FTXL has outpaced SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 40.53% total return against -56.68%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: FTXL has compounded at 25.31% a year, against 14.86% for SOXX. FTXL has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 42.0% against 81.9% for SOXX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.