THEQvsSMAXETF Comparison
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T. Rowe Price Hedged Equity ETF (THEQ) belongs to the Alternatives 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. THEQ is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.73%, versus 0.53% for SMAX. THEQ is up 8.2% year-to-date (YTD) with +$3M in YTD flows. SMAX performs worse with 5.13% YTD performance, and -$34M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of THEQ 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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THEQ vs SMAX performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 08/31/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | THEQ SMAX | +1.83%+0.57% | +0.81%+1.65% | +8.20%+5.13% | +13.10%+7.57% | n/an/a | n/an/a |
| Flows | THEQ SMAX | +$761K-$1M | +$4M-$7M | +$3M-$34M | +$13M+$515K | -- | -- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | THEQ SMAX | +10.00%+2.43% | +9.22%+2.77% | n/an/a | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown | THEQ SMAX | -3.25%-0.70% | -6.17%-1.93% | n/an/a | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown duration | THEQ SMAX | 62d10d | 48d44d | n/an/a | n/an/a |
Trading data
THEQ | SMAX | |
Last sale 9/2/2026 at 1:30 PM | $30.21 | $28.26 |
| Previous close 09/01/2026 | $30.07 | $28.24 |
| Consolidated volume 09/01/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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Main metrics
Last update 9/2/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
THEQ | SMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $30.21 | $28.26 |
| 1D performance | +0.46% | +0.07% |
| AuM | $39.36 M | $88.21 M |
| E/R | 0.73% | 0.53% |
Characteristics
THEQ | SMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Active |
| Provider | T. Rowe Price | iShares |
| Benchmark | - | - |
| N° of holdings | 349 | 496 |
| Asset class | - | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | March 26, 2025 | September 30, 2024 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
THEQ
USA
91.24%
Other
8.76%
SMAX
USA
100.92%
Other
-0.92%
Sectors
THEQ
Technology
41.44%
Finance
13.4%
Healthcare
9.06%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
9.02%
Other
27.09%
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
THEQ
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
39.16%
SMAX
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
45.4%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
THEQ
NVIDIA Corp.
6.66%
Apple, Inc.
6.51%
Microsoft Corp.
4.80%
Amazon.com, Inc.
3.53%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.98%
Broadcom Inc.
2.59%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.26%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.78%
Eli Lilly & Co.
1.25%
Mastercard, Inc.
1.22%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1.20%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
1.16%
Tesla, Inc.
1.09%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.08%
Cisco Systems, Inc.
1.05%
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 THEQ and SMAX
How have the THEQ and SMAX ETFs performed in 2026?
As of August 31, 2026, THEQ is up 8.2% year-to-date (YTD), while SMAX has returned 5.13%. That puts THEQ better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: THEQ or SMAX?
Year-to-date, the THEQ ETF saw +$3M in flows, compared to -$34M for SMAX.
Which ETF is more volatile: THEQ or SMAX?
Over the past year, THEQ had a volatility of 9.22%, while SMAX experienced 2.77%.
Which ETF is bigger: THEQ or SMAX?
As of August 31, 2026, THEQ holds $39.36 M in assets under management (AUM), while SMAX manages $88.21 M.
What sectors do the THEQ and SMAX ETFs invest in?
THEQ leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Healthcare. Meanwhile, SMAX focuses on Technology, Finance and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the THEQ ETF and SMAX ETF?
THEQ 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: THEQ or SMAX?
THEQ holds 355 securities with 39.16% of its assets in the top 15. SMAX has 504 securities and a top 15 weight of 45.4%.
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