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ETF Comparison

SOXQ vs VGT: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF and Vanguard Information Technology ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

  • SOXQInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • VGTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

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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

SOXQ has outpaced VGT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 104.01% total return against 35.97%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SOXQ has compounded at 30.68% a year, against 19.20% for VGT. VGT has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 24.6% against 39.5% for SOXQ. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Jun 2021Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SOXQ59.61%104.01%49.88%30.68%29.51%39.5%0.921.30-39.4%
VGT26.00%35.97%31.57%19.20%19.98%24.6%0.941.34-27.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jun 2021” measures every fund from June 11, 2021 — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricSOXQVGT
Full nameInvesco PHLX Semiconductor ETFVanguard Information Technology ETF
IssuerInvescoVanguard
Last Close$94.37 as of August 19, 2026$119.79 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield0.33%0.46%
Distribution Safety Score™ 9093
Expense ratio0.19%0.09%
AUM$2.86B$151B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexPHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Indexa basket of Vanguard Information Technology ETF holdings
ObjectiveTracks the PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index of US-listed semiconductor companies.Seeks to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index/Information Technology 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the information technology sector, including technology software and services, hardware and equipment, and semiconductor manufacturers.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/11/202101/26/2004
Beta2.271.47
Last dividend$0.0770$0.1384
Ex-dividend date06/22/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineSOXQ and VGT are both for investors who want broad equity exposure — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: VGT charges 0.09% against 0.19% for SOXQ, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.

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See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Invesco
ETFs247
Total AUM$1008B

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

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SOXQ.

See all Invesco ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4703B

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

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VGT.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

SOXQ (Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF) and VGT (Vanguard Information Technology ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VGT offers the higher yield at 0.46% vs 0.33% for SOXQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VGT is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.09% compared to 0.19%.

They track different benchmarks: SOXQ is linked to PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index while VGT tracks a basket of Vanguard Information Technology ETF holdings, which means their performance drivers differ.

VGT is the larger fund by assets ($151B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SOXQ would generate roughly $2.75/month, while VGT would produce $3.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SOXQ yield0.33%
VGT yield0.46%
Monthly diff on $10K$1.08

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SOXQ would cost approximately $190 in fees vs $90 for VGT (simplified, not compounded). The $100.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SOXQ ER0.19%
VGT ER0.09%

Strategy & risk

SOXQ tracks PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index, while VGT holds a basket of Vanguard Information Technology ETF holdings. Beta is 2.27 for SOXQ and 1.47 for VGT, making VGT the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SOXQ beta2.27
VGT beta1.47

Fund details

SOXQ is managed by Invesco (launched 06/11/2021) with $2.86B in assets. VGT is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $151B in assets.

SOXQ AUM$2.86B
VGT AUM$151B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for SOXQ and VGT?

SOXQ currently distributes 0.33% and VGT 0.46%, 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 SOXQ or VGT better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VGT 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 SOXQ and VGT?

SOXQ (Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF) tracks PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index, while VGT (Vanguard Information Technology ETF) holds a basket of Vanguard Information Technology ETF holdings. They are issued by Invesco and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SOXQ and VGT?

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 SOXQ or VGT safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VGT scores 93, SOXQ scores 90, so VGT's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. VGT has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.47 vs 2.27 for SOXQ). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SOXQ or VGT?

SOXQ has an expense ratio of 0.19% while VGT charges 0.09%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SOXQ vs VGT generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SOXQ would generate roughly $2.75 per month ($33.00 annually). The same in VGT would produce about $3.83 per month ($46.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SOXQ or VGT?

SOXQ has outpaced VGT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 104.01% total return against 35.97%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SOXQ has compounded at 30.68% a year, against 19.20% for VGT. VGT has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 24.6% against 39.5% for SOXQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SOXQ vs VGT — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

SOXQ and VGT are both technology-sector equity ETFs, but they differ sharply in scope and concentration. SOXQ tracks the PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index, giving it pure-play exposure to semiconductor manufacturers and equipment makers—a single subsector. VGT tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology Index, spanning large-cap software and services firms alongside semiconductor makers and hardware companies across the full tech stack. The result is a narrower, more volatile bet in SOXQ versus a diversified tech-sector approach in VGT.

How they differ

The biggest difference is strategy: SOXQ is a pure semiconductor play, while VGT is a broad technology sector fund that happens to include semiconductors alongside software, cloud services, and hardware. SOXQ's beta of 2.27 versus VGT's 1.47 reflects this—semiconductors are more cyclical and volatile than the tech sector as a whole. On yield, both are low-distribution funds (SOXQ at 0.32%, VGT at 0.45%), which is typical for growth-oriented tech allocations. VGT is considerably larger and cheaper: $147B in assets versus SOXQ's $2.86B, and a 0.10% expense ratio versus SOXQ's 0.19%. VGT also has a 20-year track record, while SOXQ is a newer fund launched in 2021.

Who each is best for

  • SOXQ: Fits investors who want concentrated exposure to semiconductor cyclicality and believe the subsector will outperform broader technology, and who accept higher volatility and drawdown risk for that conviction.
  • VGT: Fits investors seeking diversified exposure to the entire technology sector across software, services, semiconductors, and hardware, with lower volatility and a longer historical foundation to evaluate.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration in cyclical subsector (SOXQ): Semiconductor demand swings sharply with PC, smartphone, and chip inventory cycles. A downturn in end-demand or capacity oversupply can drive rapid declines across the entire holdings, since the fund holds only semiconductor manufacturers and suppliers.
  • High beta volatility: SOXQ's beta of 2.27 means it amplifies market moves roughly 2.3 times, so a 10% tech sector decline could translate to a 23% drop in SOXQ. This is inherent to the subsector's leverage and capital intensity, not a fund defect, but it magnifies sequence-of-returns risk for investors needing liquidity near market troughs.
  • Semiconductor supply-chain and geopolitical risk: The fund's holdings depend on stable global chip manufacturing and trade. US–China trade friction, Taiwan strait tensions, and export controls on advanced chip technology create regulatory and supply-chain headwinds specific to this subsector.
  • Broader tech sector participation (VGT): VGT's diversification across software, cloud, and services means it includes higher-valuation software stocks, which can suffer steep drawdowns if interest rates rise or growth expectations reset. The sector overlap between the two funds means they may move together during tech-wide selloffs.

Bottom line

If you want semiconductor-specific upside and can tolerate sharp cyclical swings, SOXQ offers pure subsector exposure. If you prefer broad technology exposure with lower volatility and a longer track record, VGT's diversification and lower costs fit a wider range of time horizons and risk tolerances. Past performance does not predict future results; neither fund's historical returns ensure future gains.

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

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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How covered-call funds work How to read a fund's stats The covered-call opportunity cost

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