Data as of .
ISTM vs REMX: which is really different?
ISTM and REMX hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and ISTM returned more over the year.
ETFIQ Off-Index Score: ISTM scores higher
How much of it is not the index it is sold as an alternative to?
A percentile among the 379 thematic ETFs with a holdings filing. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All thematic ETFs ranked by it · How it is computed
0% of the two portfolios are the same securities at the same weight.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, ISTM and REMX hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in ISTM | Only in REMX |
|---|---|
| BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY 17.46% | Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Sa 7.93% |
| CASH COLLATERAL USD BZUFT 9.45% | Albemarle Corp 7.78% |
| USD CASH 3.30% | Pilbara Minerals Ltd 6.28% |
| TREASURY BILL 2.92% | Mp Materials Corp 6.25% |
| TREASURY BILL 2.91% | Lynas Rare Earths Ltd 5.96% |
| CRH AMERICA FINANCE INC 144A 1.51% | China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Te 5.76% |
| TREASURY BILL 1.46% | Xiamen Tungsten Co Ltd 4.95% |
| TREASURY BILL 1.45% | Jinduicheng Molybdenum Co Ltd 4.74% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Sep 18, 2026.
Performance, window by window
| Window | Total return | vs the S&P 500 | vs the Nasdaq-100 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISTM | REMX | ISTM | REMX | ISTM | REMX | |
| 3 months | +2.2% | −27.7% | −0.1 pts | −30.0 pts | +4.7 pts | −25.2 pts |
| 6 months | +11.0% | −12.7% | −7.0 pts | −30.7 pts | −13.2 pts | −36.9 pts |
| 1 year | +43.4% | +14.7% | +26.9 pts | −1.9 pts | +21.6 pts | −7.1 pts |
| 3 years | not published | +3.6% | not published | −74.8 pts | not published | −94.6 pts |
| Since launch | +86.4% | −53.7% | +2.1 pts | −806.3 pts | −18.4 pts | −1534.3 pts |
| ISTM iShares Strategic Metals ETF Holds 98 stocks in rare earth and critical materials, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | REMX VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF Holds 32 stocks in rare earth and critical materials, 8% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | iShares | VanEck |
| Theme | Rare earth and critical materials | Rare earth and critical materials |
| In the S&P 500 | 0.0% | 7.6% |
| Active share vs the S&P 500 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| In the Nasdaq-100 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Holdings | 98 | 32 |
| Top ten, share of the fund | 46.0% | 61.8% |
| Expense ratio | 0.47% | 0.53% |
| Fee for the differing part | 0.47% | 0.53% |
| Total return, 1 year | +43.4% | +14.7% |
| vs the S&P 500 | +26.9 pts | −1.9 pts |
| vs the Nasdaq-100 | +21.6 pts | −7.1 pts |
| Below its high | −13.6% | −68.3% |
| Net assets | $34m | $2.0bn |
ISTM in plain words
By weight, 0% of ISTM's portfolio is stocks that are also in the S&P 500; its active share against the S&P 500 is 100%. The top ten holdings are 46% of the fund across 98 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026 the fund returned +43.4% with distributions reinvested against +16.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was ahead by 26.9 pts. It sits 13.6% below its all-time high of Jan 29, 2026.
REMX in plain words
By weight, 8% of REMX's portfolio is stocks that are also in the S&P 500; its active share against the S&P 500 is 100%. The top ten holdings are 62% of the fund across 32 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026 the fund returned +14.7% with distributions reinvested against +16.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was behind by 1.9 pts. It sits 68.3% below its all-time high of Apr 11, 2011.
Questions people ask
- Do ISTM and REMX hold the same stocks?
- By their latest filings, 0% of their books are the same securities at the same weight, which is mostly different names. Overlap is the sum of the smaller weight of every security they share.
- Which is more different from the S&P 500, ISTM or REMX?
- ISTM has 0% of its weight in S&P 500 names and REMX has 8%, so ISTM differs more from the index.
- Which is cheaper, ISTM or REMX?
- ISTM charges 0.47% a year and REMX charges 0.53%, so ISTM is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, ISTM against REMX, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/istm-vs-remx Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.