VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF

SMHX

Market cap $169M

VanEck's Fabless Semiconductor ETF has delivered sector-leading returns. It has larger weights in the top 3 providers of AI compute engines (NVIDIA, Broadcom, & AMD) than its sister fund SMH. SMHX focuses on fabless semiconductor companies that benefit from an asset-light business model by outsourcing chip fabrication to specialized foundries. The fabless/foundry partnership enables cost-efficiency and innovation, though reliance on dominant foundries like TSMC has increased.

Right now ahead of Halloween, the real suspense might be in ETF investing strategies. With markets seesawing between hopes for rate cuts and the resilience of earnings, investors are dusting off one of Wall Street's spooky old sayings:  Sell in May and go away.

AI hyperscaler capex is set to nearly triple to $1.4T by 2027, fueling a multi-year demand wave for semiconductors and infrastructure. Top AI ETFs - SMH, XSD, SOXX, WTAI and SMHX - offer diversified or targeted exposure to leading beneficiaries of the AI infrastructure buildout. All five highlighted ETFs earn Buy Quant ratings, with strong momentum, low expenses, and high liquidity, making them attractive for both short- and long-term investors.

VanEck's product manager Nicholas Frasse joins CNBC's Contessa Brewer to talk about how fabless semiconductor companies are the innovation engine of the AI revolution. By outsourcing manufacturing, they avoid billions in factory costs and can focus entirely on design, R&D and attracting top engineers.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VanEck's Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX), hits one-year anniversary and has surpassed $100 million in assets.

I rate VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF a speculative buy, as its fabless focus offers resilience amid geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. SMHX targets high-growth areas like AI, automotive, and 5G, with a concentrated portfolio led by NVIDIA and Broadcom, benefiting from sector tailwinds. The fund's fabless model provides higher profitability and less supply chain risk, but its high concentration and reliance on foundries introduce company-specific and operational risks.

NVDA reclaims the top spot with a $3.45T valuation, and ETFs with heavy exposure to the stock offer investors a way to ride the AI wave.

We have highlighted five ETFs from different corners of the stock market that have gained more than the S&P 500 over the past month.

VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF is invested in 22 semiconductor companies focused on design and outsourcing production. SMHX's portfolio is highly concentrated, with the top 10 holdings making up 74.2% of asset value, led by Nvidia and Broadcom. SMHX has superior growth characteristics and has outperformed other semiconductors ETF.

Following Nvidia's recent earnings report, we discuss the rapid evolution of AI-driven semiconductor demand and the broader implications for the semiconductor industry and investors. In our latest semiconductor outlook discussion, we broke down the latest shifts in AI-driven semiconductor demand, Nvidia's evolving role, and what these trends mean for investors.