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.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SOXX.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
QTUM has lagged SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 54.41% total return against 127.40%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SOXX has compounded at 31.18% a year, against 25.39% for QTUM. QTUM has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 28.2% against 38.6% for SOXX. 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 SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
QTUM offers the higher yield at 0.75% vs 0.21% for SOXX. 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 0.35% compared to 0.40%.
They track different benchmarks: QTUM is linked to BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index while SOXX tracks ICE Semiconductor Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SOXX is the larger fund by assets ($45.1B), 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 0.21% for SOXX.
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.7 vs 2.2 for SOXX.
Choose SOXX
iShares 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 & SOXX 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 SOXX would produce $1.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
QTUM yield0.75%
SOXX yield0.21%
Monthly diff on $10K$4.50
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, QTUM would cost approximately $400 in fees vs $350 for SOXX (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
QTUM ER0.40%
SOXX ER0.35%
Strategy & risk
QTUM tracks BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index with a technology approach, while SOXX tracks ICE Semiconductor Index. Beta is 1.67 for QTUM and 2.24 for SOXX, indicating QTUM is less volatile relative to the market.
QTUM beta1.67
SOXX beta2.24
Fund details
QTUM is managed by Defiance ETFs (launched 09/04/2018) with $5.32B in assets. SOXX is managed by iShares (launched 07/10/2001) with $45.1B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QTUM or SOXX 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 SOXX?
QTUM (Defiance Quantum ETF) tracks BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index with a technology approach, while SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) tracks ICE Semiconductor Index. They are issued by Defiance ETFs and iShares respectively.
Can I hold both QTUM and SOXX?
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 SOXX?
QTUM has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SOXX 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 SOXX generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in QTUM would generate roughly $6.25 per month ($75.00 annually). The same in SOXX would produce about $1.75 per month ($21.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, QTUM or SOXX?
QTUM has lagged SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 54.41% total return against 127.40%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SOXX has compounded at 31.18% a year, against 25.39% for QTUM. QTUM has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 28.2% against 38.6% for SOXX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
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