FAIvsSMHETF Comparison
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First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF (FAI) belongs to the AI & Big Data segment. VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is part of the US Info. Technology segment. FAI's top 3 sector exposures are Technology, Consumer Non-Cyclicals and Business Services. In contrast, SMH's top sector exposures are Technology, FAI is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.65%, versus 0.35% for SMH. FAI is up 22.77% year-to-date (YTD) with +$121M in YTD flows. SMH performs better with 61.15% YTD performance, and +$7.73B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FAI and SMH below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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FAI vs SMH performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 07/22/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FAI SMH | -7.89%-6.61% | +11.17%+20.42% | +22.77%+61.15% | +40.91%+103.16% | n/a+282.14% | n/a+365.03% |
| Flows | FAI SMH | +$75M+$1.85B | +$111M+$2.48B | +$121M+$7.73B | +$137M+$11.26B | -+$17.67B | -+$20.55B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FAI SMH | +34.93%+53.49% | +27.01%+37.67% | n/a+36.69% | n/a+36.52% |
| Max drawdown | FAI SMH | -13.73%-16.81% | -18.47%-16.81% | n/a-35.84% | n/a-45.33% |
| Max drawdown duration | FAI SMH | 50d31d | 169d31d | n/a356d | n/a562d |
Trading data
FAI | SMH | |
Last sale 7/24/2026 at 1:30 PM | $48.66 | $561.19 |
| Previous close 07/23/2026 | $49.54 | $580.17 |
| Consolidated volume 07/23/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of June 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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FAI | SMH | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 7/24/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
FAI | SMH | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $48.66 | $561.19 |
| 1D performance | -1.78% | -3.27% |
| AuM | $158.98 M | $69.78 B |
| E/R | 0.65% | 0.35% |
Characteristics
FAI | SMH | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | VanEck |
| Benchmark | Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence Index | MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index |
| N° of holdings | 50 | 25 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | November 20, 2024 | December 20, 2011 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
FAI
USA
79.8%
Republic of Korea
7.25%
Other
12.95%
SMH
USA
82.19%
Taiwan
9.2%
Other
8.6%
Sectors
FAI
Technology
89.6%
Other
10.4%
SMH
Technology
100%
Other
-0%
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Diversification
FAI
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
76.69%
SMH
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
88.9%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of June 30, 2026
FAI
Micron Technology, Inc.
7.98%
SK hynix, Inc.
7.25%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
7.05%
Alphabet, Inc.
6.92%
Broadcom Inc.
6.65%
Amazon.com, Inc.
6.53%
NVIDIA Corp.
6.30%
Microsoft Corp.
5.80%
Marvell Technology, Inc.
4.17%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
3.94%
ASML Holding NV
3.94%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
3.02%
Oracle Corp.
2.76%
Palantir Technologies, Inc.
2.40%
ServiceNow, Inc.
1.98%
SMH
NVIDIA Corp.
17.74%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
9.20%
Micron Technology, Inc.
5.85%
Applied Materials, Inc.
5.73%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
5.44%
Broadcom Inc.
5.41%
KLA Corp.
5.35%
Lam Research Corp.
5.24%
Intel Corp.
5.05%
ASML Holding NV
4.95%
Marvell Technology, Inc.
4.51%
Texas Instruments Incorporated
4.15%
Analog Devices, Inc.
4.09%
QUALCOMM, Inc.
3.97%
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
2.22%
Frequently asked questions about FAI and SMH
How have the FAI and SMH ETFs performed in 2026?
As of July 22, 2026, FAI is up 22.77% year-to-date (YTD), while SMH has returned 61.15%. That puts SMH better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FAI or SMH?
Year-to-date, the FAI ETF saw +$121M in flows, compared to +$7.73B for SMH.
Which ETF is more volatile: FAI or SMH?
Over the past year, FAI had a volatility of 27.01%, while SMH experienced 37.67%.
Which ETF is bigger: FAI or SMH?
As of July 22, 2026, FAI holds $158.98 M in assets under management (AUM), while SMH manages $69.78 B.
What sectors do the FAI and SMH ETFs invest in?
FAI leans toward sectors like Technology. Meanwhile, SMH focuses on Technology.
What are the top holdings of the FAI ETF and SMH ETF?
FAI top holdings include Micron Technology, Inc., SK hynix, Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.. SMH holds in its top three: NVIDIA Corp., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Micron Technology, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: FAI or SMH?
FAI holds 50 securities with 76.69% of its assets in the top 15. SMH has 25 securities and a top 15 weight of 88.9%.
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November 22, 2024
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First Trust Launches New FAI ETF to Tap into Artificial Intelligence Growth
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