VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX) IV/HV History

Comparing implied volatility to historical (realized) volatility reveals whether options are priced rich or cheap relative to actual price movement. Persistent gaps can signal trading opportunities.

VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX) operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically the Asset Management industry, with a market capitalization near $168.2M, listed on NASDAQ, carrying a beta of 2.28 to the broader market. VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MarketVector US Listed Fabless Semiconductor Index (the “Fabless Index” or the “Index”), which is intended to track the overall performance of companies involved in semiconductor production and classified as a fabless. public since 2024-08-28.

Snapshot as of May 15, 2026.

Spot Price
$55.97
ATM IV
46.3%
HV 20-Day
40.9%
HV 60-Day
38.5%
IV Rank
23.6%
IV Percentile
69.0%

As of May 15, 2026, VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX) ATM implied volatility is 46.3%. 20-day realized volatility is 40.9%, producing an IV-HV spread of +5.4 vol points. Options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently delivered, the volatility risk premium. IV rank is 23.6%.

How SMHX iv/hv history Data Feeds Strategy Selection

Strategy selection on VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF options does not derive from any single metric in isolation. The iv/hv history view above sits inside a broader read: ATM IV currently sits at 46.3% and dealer gamma exposure is positive, so dealer hedging is mechanically mean-reverting. Combine the iv/hv history data here with the volatility-skew surface, dealer-gamma exposure, max-pain level, and upcoming-events calendar to build a positioning thesis. Risk-defined structures (credit spreads, debit spreads, iron condors) are usually safer than naked positions while the regime is uncertain; the data on this page anchors the inputs but does not by itself constitute a trade thesis.

Learn how implied vs realized volatility is reported and how to read the data →

Frequently asked SMHX iv/hv history questions

Is SMHX options pricing rich or cheap right now?
As of May 15, 2026, VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (SMHX) ATM IV is 46.3% against 20-day realized volatility of 40.9%. IV rank is 23.6%. SMHX options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently realized: a positive variance risk premium worth 5.4 vol points.
What is the SMHX variance risk premium?
The variance risk premium is the persistent gap between implied and subsequently realized volatility. In equity markets it averages positive because option sellers demand compensation for bearing variance shocks. SMHX is currently priced consistently with this premium, which is one input to whether short-vol or long-vol structures carry their typical edge.
What does SMHX IV rank mean for strategy selection?
IV rank normalizes the current ATM IV to its 1-year range: 0% is the low, 100% is the high. SMHX's current rank of 23.6% signals where current pricing sits in its own 1-year history. High-rank regimes typically favor premium-selling structures (credit spreads, condors, covered calls); low-rank regimes typically favor premium-buying or long-volatility structures.