FTXL vs SOXX Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
FTXL and SOXX both target semiconductor industry exposure but take different paths to get there — FTXL via the Nasdaq US Smart Semiconductor Index, and SOXX via the ICE Semiconductor Index. The practical differences come down to issuer, cost structure, and the specific index rules each fund follows, since both are pursuing a similar investment outcome.
FTXL vs SOXX is largely a question of which issuer and index methodology you trust more for semiconductor industry exposure — the underlying investment case is similar, so cost, liquidity, and tracking precision tend to be the deciding factors.
SOXX holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. FTXL has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+61.87% vs +48.46% for SOXX).
- want factor-tilted exposure to the semiconductor industry
- prefer First Trust's approach and fund lineup
- value smart-beta weighting aims to improve on simple cap-weighting
- are comfortable with smaller asset base and liquidity than SOXX
- want the standard, most liquid way to hold the semiconductor industry
- prefer iShares (BlackRock)'s approach and fund lineup
- value deepest liquidity of any semiconductor ETF
- are comfortable with semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and boom-and-bust
| Metric | FTXL | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 30.9 | 30.8 |
| Latest closei | $203.92 | $453.65 |
| 1M returni | -22.54% | -22.97% |
| 3M returni | -6.71% | -10.58% |
| 6M returni | -4.67% | -1.71% |
| 1Y returni | +61.87% | +48.46% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | FTXL | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $16K (+60.0%) started 2025-11-03 | $14.81K (+48.1%) started 2025-11-03 |
| 5Y ago | $29.13K (+191.3%) started 2021-11-03 | $29.74K (+197.4%) started 2021-11-03 |
| 10Y ago | $115.96K (+1059.6%) started 2016-11-03 | $150.78K (+1407.8%) started 2016-11-03 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | FTXL | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.60% | 0.33% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $1.37B | $48.43B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.07% | 0.22% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 26.48 | 26.67 |
| Betai | 1.86 | 1.89 |
| 52-week change | 61.87% | 48.46% |
| Metric | FTXL | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +61.87% | +48.46% |
| 6M returni | -4.67% | -1.71% |
| 3M returni | -6.71% | -10.58% |
| 1M returni | -22.54% | -22.97% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.12 | 0.97 |
| Betai | 1.86 | 1.89 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.07% | 0.22% |
| 5Y CAGR | +23.22% | +23.42% |
Over the past year, FTXL and SOXX have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.99), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | FTXL | SOXX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +59.84% | +47.58% |
| CAGRi | +60.10% | +47.78% | |
| Volatilityi | 49.17% | 47.54% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.12 | 0.97 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.59 | 1.37 | |
| Max drawdowni | 32.64% | 30.70% | |
| Current drawdowni | 31.34% | 30.70% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 9.65% | 8.89% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 13.37% | 12.11% | |
| Max daily dropi | 10.52% | 10.44% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 17.56% | 16.29% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +183.83% | +186.16% |
| CAGRi | +23.22% | +23.42% | |
| Volatilityi | 39.17% | 39.24% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.62 | 0.62 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.89 | 0.90 | |
| Max drawdowni | 43.87% | 45.75% | |
| Current drawdowni | 31.34% | 30.70% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 15.33% | 14.66% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 18.87% | 18.48% | |
| Max daily dropi | 10.77% | 10.44% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 17.83% | 17.75% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +993.95% | +1265.99% |
| CAGRi | +27.04% | +29.89% | |
| Volatilityi | 35.69% | 35.15% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.73 | 0.79 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.04 | 1.14 | |
| Max drawdowni | 43.87% | 45.75% | |
| Current drawdowni | 31.34% | 30.70% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 10.98% | 9.83% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 14.96% | 14.10% | |
| Max daily dropi | 13.69% | 15.23% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 21.18% | 19.88% |
| Category | FTXL | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | iShares Semiconductor ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.60% | 0.33% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $1.37B | $48.43B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.07% | 0.22% |
- Smart-beta weighting aims to improve on simple cap-weighting
- Direct exposure to the AI-driven semiconductor capex boom
- Diversified across chip designers, equipment makers, and foundries
- Deepest liquidity of any semiconductor ETF
- Direct exposure to the AI-driven chip capex supercycle
- Long track record through multiple semiconductor cycles
- Smaller asset base and liquidity than SOXX
- Semiconductor cycle is notoriously boom-and-bust
- Smart-beta methodology adds complexity versus simple index funds
- Semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and boom-and-bust
- Concentrated in a relatively small number of large chip names
- Extremely sensitive to AI-spending sentiment shifts
Compare more than two at a time
This page is a fixed writeup on FTXL and SOXX. Our comparison engine is the interactive version: load up to five tickers, switch timeframes, and get the correlation, drawdown, and overlap analysis that a static page can't show.
Add three more names beside FTXL and SOXX, mixing stocks and ETFs in the same table — useful when the real question is which of a whole peer group to own.
AI score, forward P/E, analyst target upside, operating margin, and revenue growth are scored head-to-head, with a running tally of which ticker leads on how many metrics.
Volatility, Sharpe and Sortino ratios, maximum, current, and average drawdown, Ulcer Index, and worst single-day and single-week drops across every timeframe.
Pairwise daily-return correlation for every combination, so you can see whether two holdings actually diversify each other or just move together.
A scatter plot of forward P/E against return on equity, plus drawdown and 30-day rolling volatility charts, to separate what is cheap from what is merely beaten down.
For ETFs, a top-holdings comparison that exposes hidden overlap between funds. Every comparison exports to CSV for your own spreadsheet work.
Two comparisons a week are free without an account. A 14-day trial removes the limit and adds AI price forecasts, stock rankings, saved watchlists, and the intrinsic value calculator — no credit card required.
Want deeper AI forecasts?
This comparison page is public and free forever. Subscribers can unlock saved watchlists, full AI rankings, detailed forecasts, and interactive analysis tools.