VanEck Semiconductor ETF Surges 68.8% YTD with $58.8B in Assets
SMH•VanEck Semiconductor ETF has climbed 68.78% year to date, making it one of the top-performing broad semiconductor funds in H1 2026. With $58.8 billion in assets under management, SMH’s liquidity advantage over smaller, high-growth ETFs like the Roundhill Memory ETF positions it as a preferred choice for institutional investors.
1. YTD Performance
VanEck Semiconductor ETF delivered a 68.78% return in H1 2026, ranking fifth among major semiconductor ETFs behind First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF, Invesco Semiconductors ETF, iShares Semiconductor ETF and SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF.
2. AUM and Liquidity
With $58.8 billion in assets under management, SMH boasts the largest AUM in the semiconductor ETF space, offering superior liquidity and tighter bid-ask spreads compared to smaller funds like the Roundhill Memory ETF, which holds nearly $14 billion.
3. Comparison with Peers
Although its 68.78% YTD gain trails the 100% rally of FTXL and 94.81% gain of PSI, SMH’s scale and diversification across semiconductor segments make it a core holding for investors seeking broad AI infrastructure exposure.
4. AI Infrastructure Impact
Sustained demand for AI infrastructure chips, including high-bandwidth memory and advanced processors, has driven robust inflows into SMH, underpinning its strong H1 performance and signaling continued interest as data center buildouts progress.
