ETF Evaluator:
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG)
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(as of Jul 31)
Best Performing in Miscellaneous Sector Over the Last Year
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ETF Details
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF Overview
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) is a passively managed Sector Equity Miscellaneous Sector exchange-traded fund (ETF). VanEck launched the ETF in 2007.
The investment seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS Global Low Carbon Energy Index.
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in stocks of low carbon energy companies. Such companies may include small- and medium-capitalization companies and foreign issuers. “Low carbon energy companies” refers to companies primarily engaged in renewable energy, including renewable energy production, alternative fuels, electric vehicles, and related technologies and building materials (such as advanced batteries). It is non-diversified.
About VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 10.67 years: Peter Liao (2007) and Ralph Lasta (2024). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MVIS Global Low Carbon Energy NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF has 61 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 56.6% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity ETF group. VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF has 59.9% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 40.1% There is 59.9% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF has 0.0% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $143 million in total assets, which is below the $351 million average for the Miscellaneous Sector category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
SMOG Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF expense ratio is above average compared to funds in the Miscellaneous Sector category. VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF has an expense ratio of 0.64%, which is 12% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 21%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 45% for the Miscellaneous Sector category.
Recently, in the month of June 2026, VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF returned -5.6%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Miscellaneous Sector category had an average return of -6.8%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF has a trailing yield of 1.39%, which is above the 1.02% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 12.7%, 1.1 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of C. The fund has returned 35.0% over the past year (grade of D), 7.6% over the past three years (grade of C) and -0.6% per year over the past five years (grade of B) and 12.5% per year over the past 10 years (grade of A).
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SMOG Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 6/30/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| SMOG Return (NAV) | -5.6% | 5.6% | 35.0% | 7.6% | -0.6% | 12.5% |
| SMOG Return (Price) | -5.3% | 5.3% | 34.9% | 7.8% | -0.7% | 12.6% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.235% | 0.288% | 0.077% | -0.230% | 0.018% | -0.083% |
| Miscellaneous Sector Avg | -6.8% | 13.7% | 51.8% | 8.1% | -7.9% | 7.0% |
| SMOG Grade (NAV) | C | D | D | C | B | A |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 1.2% | -8.1% | -16.8% | -0.5% | 7.3% | 5.5% |
| SMOG Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
SMOG Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 6/30/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| SMOG Return (NAV) | 12.7% | 32.9% | -9.1% | 1.4% | -29.5% | -3.0% | 118.6% | 37.4% | -9.0% | 21.9% | -5.2% |
| SMOG Return (Price) | 12.7% | 33.3% | -9.3% | 1.4% | -29.9% | -2.7% | 118.4% | 38.9% | -10.2% | 22.7% | -5.9% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.001% | 0.015% | 0.021% | 0.047% | 0.013% | -0.087% | -0.002% | 3.9% | 12.8% | 3.6% | 12.9% |
| Miscellaneous Sector Avg | 13.8% | 30.9% | -12.7% | -3.8% | -34.7% | 9.9% | 62.0% | 25.7% | -13.2% | 27.3% | 0.5% |
| SMOG Grade (NAV) | C | C | C | B | C | C | B | B | B | C | D |
| +/- Category | -1.1% | 2.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% | 5.2% | -12.9% | 56.6% | 11.7% | 4.2% | -5.4% | -5.8% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 1.20 |
| R-Squared: | 47% |
| Standard Deviation: | 22.3% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.57 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Below Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.83 |
| Total Risk Rating: | High |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.4% |
| Total Assets: | $ 144 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 144 Mil |
| Turnover: | 21.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.64% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI ACWI NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | Yes |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 19.2 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 10.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Liao Peter (2007), Lasta Ralph (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 61 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 56.6% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 59.9% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 40.1% |
| Foreign Stock: | 59.9% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.0% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | VanEck |
| Phone Number: | 800-826-2333 |
| Website: | www.marketvectorsetfs.com |
| Inception Date: | May 3, 2007 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.64% (Rating: Above Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.73% |
