SMH vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
VanEck Semiconductor ETF against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 5, 2000 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SMH beat QQQ?
Yes — measured from Jun 5, 2000 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SMH came out ahead: $140,421 versus $90,717 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.6% annual return against 8.8%.
What would $10,000 in SMH be worth today?
$10,000 invested in VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) on Jun 5, 2000 would be worth about $140,421 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1304.2% (10.6% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $90,717.
Which was riskier — SMH or QQQ?
SMH swung with an annualized volatility of 35.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -85.9%; QQQ ran at 25.7% volatility with a -80.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.25 for SMH vs 0.26 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 5, 2000 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with SMH vs QQQ. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.