SSUSvsSMAXETF Comparison
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Day Hagan/Ned Davis Research Smart Sector ETF (SSUS) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF (SMAX) is part of the Options Strategies segment. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: Technology, Finance and Healthcare. SSUS is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.77%, versus 0.53% for SMAX. SSUS is up 15.6% year-to-date (YTD) with -$51M in YTD flows. SMAX performs worse with 5.2% YTD performance, and -$34M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of SSUS and SMAX 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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SSUS vs SMAX performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 08/28/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | SSUS SMAX | +4.12%+1.13% | +1.48%+1.88% | +15.60%+5.20% | +21.03%+7.47% | +63.84%n/a | +66.03%n/a |
| Flows | SSUS SMAX | +$562K-$1M | -$11M-$8M | -$51M-$34M | -$81M+$515K | -$212M- | +$41M- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | SSUS SMAX | +15.11%+2.44% | +13.60%+2.77% | +14.80%n/a | +15.70%n/a |
| Max drawdown | SSUS SMAX | -5.49%-0.70% | -9.03%-1.93% | -17.72%n/a | -22.88%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | SSUS SMAX | 62d10d | 75d44d | 124dn/a | 764dn/a |
Trading data
SSUS | SMAX | |
Last sale 8/28/2026 at 1:30 PM | $56.36 | $28.28 |
| Previous close 08/27/2026 | $56.58 | $28.28 |
| Consolidated volume 08/27/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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Main metrics
Last update 8/28/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
SSUS | SMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $56.36 | $28.28 |
| 1D performance | -0.39% | +0.01% |
| AuM | $584.20 M | $88.26 M |
| E/R | 0.77% | 0.53% |
Characteristics
SSUS | SMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Active |
| Provider | Day Hagan Asset Management | iShares |
| Benchmark | - | - |
| N° of holdings | 495 | 496 |
| Asset class | - | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | January 17, 2020 | September 30, 2024 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
SSUS
USA
96.6%
Other
3.4%
SMAX
USA
100.92%
Other
-0.92%
Sectors
SSUS
Technology
47.49%
Finance
11.73%
Healthcare
9.7%
Industrials
8.05%
Other
23.04%
SMAX
Technology
46.23%
Finance
14.48%
Healthcare
9.28%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
9.23%
Industrials
7.84%
Other
12.94%
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Diversification
SSUS
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
38.36%
SMAX
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
45.4%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
SSUS
NVIDIA Corp.
6.88%
Apple, Inc.
6.75%
Microsoft Corp.
6.04%
Alphabet, Inc.
3.14%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
2.28%
Broadcom Inc.
1.88%
Amazon.com, Inc.
1.77%
Eli Lilly & Co.
1.54%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
1.51%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.30%
Cisco Systems, Inc.
1.14%
Intel Corp.
1.06%
Johnson & Johnson
1.05%
Tesla, Inc.
1.02%
Applied Materials, Inc.
1.00%
SMAX
Apple, Inc.
7.90%
NVIDIA Corp.
7.62%
Microsoft Corp.
5.40%
Amazon.com, Inc.
3.72%
Alphabet, Inc.
3.16%
Broadcom Inc.
2.96%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.54%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.91%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.59%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1.52%
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
1.51%
Eli Lilly & Co.
1.47%
BlackRock Cash Funds - Treasury
1.42%
Tesla, Inc.
1.40%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
1.28%
Frequently asked questions about SSUS and SMAX
How have the SSUS and SMAX ETFs performed in 2026?
As of August 28, 2026, SSUS is up 15.6% year-to-date (YTD), while SMAX has returned 5.2%. That puts SSUS better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: SSUS or SMAX?
Year-to-date, the SSUS ETF saw -$51M in flows, compared to -$34M for SMAX.
Which ETF is more volatile: SSUS or SMAX?
Over the past year, SSUS had a volatility of 13.6%, while SMAX experienced 2.77%.
Which ETF is bigger: SSUS or SMAX?
As of August 28, 2026, SSUS holds $584.20 M in assets under management (AUM), while SMAX manages $88.26 M.
What sectors do the SSUS and SMAX ETFs invest in?
SSUS leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Healthcare. Meanwhile, SMAX focuses on Technology, Finance and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the SSUS ETF and SMAX ETF?
SSUS top holdings include NVIDIA Corp., Apple, Inc. and Microsoft Corp.. SMAX holds in its top three: Apple, Inc., NVIDIA Corp. and Microsoft Corp..
Which ETF is more diversified: SSUS or SMAX?
SSUS holds 500 securities with 38.36% of its assets in the top 15. SMAX has 504 securities and a top 15 weight of 45.4%.
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