CRAK vs SLX
VanEck Oil Refiners ETF vs VanEck Steel ETF
Which is better, CRAK or SLX?
Each has led over a different period.
SLX has a lower expense ratio. CRAK led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SLX over the full window. SLX is less concentrated, with 56.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | CRAK | SLX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% | 0.55%Best |
| AUM | $183M | $159M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.19% | 1.28% |
| Holdings | 52 | 80 |
| YTD Return | +79.72%Best | +18.57% |
| 1Y Return | +92.04%Best | +39.38% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.82%Best | +19.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.55%Best | +15.93% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.8%Best | 31.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.8%Best | -61.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,420Best | $20,940 |
| Top 10 Weight | 59.8% | 56.6%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | VanEck |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 18, 2015 | Oct 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11.2 years).
CRAK vs SLX growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 11.2 years both funds cover.
CRAK vs SLX Performance
VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (CRAK) is an ETF from VanEck and VanEck Steel ETF (SLX) is an ETF from VanEck. Over the past year CRAK returned +92.04% while SLX returned +39.38%. Year to date, CRAK is up 79.72% versus a gain of 18.57% for SLX.
Over three years, CRAK compounded at +28.82% per year against +19.12% for SLX; over five years the annualized figures are +19.55% and +15.93% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SLX has the edge at +16.95% annualized vs +14.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SLX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.5% compared with 23.8% for CRAK. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -58.8% for CRAK and -61.9% for SLX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CRAK charges 0.61% per year while SLX charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $55 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CRAK currently yields 1.19% against 1.28% for SLX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 26 holdings in CRAK and 39 in SLX, totalling 99.9% and 100.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in CRAK and 39 in SLX, against full books of 52 and 80.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for SLX that do not appear in our book for CRAK (20.4% of the fund), and 8 for CRAK that do not appear in SLX (35.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CRAK and SLX you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CRAK or SLX?
CRAK has an expense ratio of 0.61% while SLX charges 0.55%. SLX is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CRAK or SLX?
Over the past year CRAK returned +92.04% vs +39.38% for SLX, so CRAK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), CRAK annualized +14.10% vs +16.95% for SLX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CRAK or SLX?
SLX has been the more volatile fund at 31.5% annualized versus 23.8% for CRAK. Worst drawdown: CRAK -58.8% vs SLX -61.9%.
Should I hold both CRAK and SLX?
CRAK and SLX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, CRAK or SLX?
CRAK yields 1.19% while SLX yields 1.28%, so SLX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SLX better than CRAK?
SLX has a lower expense ratio. CRAK led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SLX over the full window. SLX is less concentrated, with 56.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.