DRAM vs SOXX: Memory Pure-Play vs the Whole Chip Industry
DRAM bets on memory chips specifically. SOXX owns the broad semiconductor supply chain, including the chip designers and equipment makers DRAM leaves out.
DRAM and SOXX both sit in semiconductors, but they are not the same bet. SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) holds about 30 US-listed chip companies across the whole supply chain: Nvidia, Broadcom, AMD, Qualcomm, and memory names like Micron. It charges 0.35% and has traded since 2001. DRAM (Roundhill Memory ETF) holds only memory chip makers: Micron, SK Hynix, Samsung, and SanDisk. It launched in 2024 and charges 0.75%, more than double SOXX. The case for DRAM is the AI memory thesis: data center GPUs need High Bandwidth Memory, and only a few companies make it at scale. The case for SOXX is diversification across the entire chip industry at less than half the cost. For broad semiconductor exposure, SOXX is the default. DRAM is a concentrated bet on the memory cycle specifically, and memory is one of the most boom-and-bust corners of the sector.
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
📋 DRAM vs SOXX — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | DRAM | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Roundhill Memory ETF | iShares Semiconductor ETF |
| Issuer | Roundhill | iShares |
| Tracks Index | Solactive Memory Chip | ICE Semiconductor |
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.35% ✓ |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $75.00 | $35.00 |
| AUM | $25.9B | $47.8B |
| Holdings | 25 | 30 |
| Inception | 2024 | 2001 |
| 1-Year Return | +92.00% | +125.23% |
| 3-Year Return | — | +48.58% |
| 5-Year Return | — | +31.78% |
| Dividend Yield | — | 0.23% |
| Holdings Overlap | See holdings overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.10% | 0.01% |
Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated Jul 17, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 DRAM vs SOXX — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?
- already use Roundhill and prefer staying within one fund family
- want the lowest fees: saves ~$40/yr per $10K vs DRAM
- already use iShares and prefer staying within one fund family
💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs
Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.
Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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❓ DRAM vs SOXX — Frequently Asked Questions
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