ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Defiance ETFs is known for offering specialized and thematic investment strategies that cater to niche market segments and alternative income approaches. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused funds, leveraged strategies, combinations of leverage with income generation, and thematic products tied to emerging trends and sectors. Defiance emphasizes non-traditional and differentiated strategies rather than broad-based index exposure, appealing to investors seeking targeted exposure beyond conventional ETF offerings.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QTUM.
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.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
QTUM has lagged SMH over the trailing twelve months, posting a 54.41% total return against 103.94%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SMH has compounded at 36.15% a year, against 25.39% for QTUM. QTUM has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 28.2% against 36.3% for SMH. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 23, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2018” measures every fund from September 5, 2018 — 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
QTUM (Defiance Quantum ETF) and SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
QTUM offers the higher yield at 0.75% vs 0.19% for SMH. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
SMH is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.35% compared to 0.40%.
They track different benchmarks: QTUM is linked to BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index while SMH tracks MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SMH is the larger fund by assets ($67.4B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose QTUM
Defiance Quantum ETF
Want higher current income — QTUM yields 0.75% vs 0.19% for SMH.
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.7 vs 2.0 for SMH.
Choose SMH
VanEck Semiconductor ETF
Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.35% expense ratio vs 0.40% for QTUM.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track QTUM & SMH for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, QTUM would generate roughly $6.25/month, while SMH would produce $1.58/month, at current distribution rates.
QTUM yield0.75%
SMH yield0.19%
Monthly diff on $10K$4.67
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, QTUM would cost approximately $400 in fees vs $350 for SMH (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
QTUM ER0.40%
SMH ER0.35%
Strategy & risk
QTUM tracks BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index with a technology approach, while SMH tracks MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index with a technology approach. Beta is 1.67 for QTUM and 1.98 for SMH, indicating QTUM is less volatile relative to the market.
QTUM beta1.67
SMH beta1.98
Fund details
QTUM is managed by Defiance ETFs (launched 09/04/2018) with $5.32B in assets. SMH is managed by VanEck (launched 12/20/2011) with $67.4B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QTUM or SMH better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. QTUM 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 QTUM and SMH?
QTUM (Defiance Quantum ETF) tracks BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index with a technology approach, while SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) tracks MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index with a technology approach. They are issued by Defiance ETFs and VanEck respectively.
Can I hold both QTUM 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.
Which has lower fees, QTUM or SMH?
QTUM has an expense ratio of 0.40% 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 QTUM vs SMH generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in QTUM would generate roughly $6.25 per month ($75.00 annually). The same in SMH would produce about $1.58 per month ($19.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, QTUM or SMH?
QTUM has lagged SMH over the trailing twelve months, posting a 54.41% total return against 103.94%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SMH has compounded at 36.15% a year, against 25.39% for QTUM. QTUM has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 28.2% against 36.3% for SMH. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
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