EasyCompare

Relative Intelligence · Semiconductors

How United Microelectronics (UMC) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on UMC alone. It places UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation) against 19 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where UMC stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: UMC's full trading record, from September 2000 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against UMC →Chart UMC vs. 19 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in UMC have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in UMC over the past 26 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of UMC over the same span and UMC's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of September 2000 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 805 of the 1,261 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of UMC; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$100$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M2000200420082012201620202024$100$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M2000200720142021
  • LRCX$2M+18,355% total · +22.2% a year
  • KLAC$906,690+8,967% total · +18.9% a year
  • TSM$885,827+8,758% total · +18.8% a year
  • ASML$501,165+4,912% total · +16.2% a year
  • AMAT$238,716+2,287% total · +13.0% a year
  • TXN$97,586+876% total · +9.2% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$84,332+743% total · +8.5% a year
  • ADI$79,170+692% total · +8.3% a year
  • UMC$61,692+517% total · +7.2% a year
  • TSEM$6,892−31.1% total · −1.4% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 393 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of UMC; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000$100,000$120,000202120222023202420252026$0$50,000$100,000$150,000202120222023202420252026
  • AVGO$79,117+691% total · +51.2% a year
  • TSEM$76,064+661% total · +50.0% a year
  • ASX$70,798+608% total · +47.9% a year
  • KLAC$61,203+512% total · +43.7% a year
  • LRCX$60,701+507% total · +43.4% a year
  • TSM$43,622+336% total · +34.3% a year
  • AMAT$41,406+314% total · +32.9% a year
  • UMC$28,085+181% total · +22.9% a year
  • ADI$25,751+158% total · +20.8% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

UMC at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$49B
Industry
Semiconductors
Price history from
September 2000

Returns

Past 1 year
+166%total return
Past 3 years
+202%+44.6% a year
Past 5 years
+147%+19.9% a year
Past 10 years
+1,610%+32.8% a year
Best calendar year
+232%2020
Worst calendar year
−58.0%2002
Losing years
13 of 25full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
43.2%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.63return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−86.0%Sep 2000 to Oct 2008
From its all-time high
−28.9%below the peak

UMC against the whole market

Where UMC ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does UMC rank among all stocks?

This section ranks UMC on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how UMC stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureUMCRankStanding
1-year return+166%60 of 3,287top 2%
3-year return+202%399 of 3,017top 13%
5-year return+147%459 of 2,893top 16%
10-year return+1,610%53 of 2,202top 2%
Volatility, 5 years43.2%1,619 of 2,893bottom 45%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.63600 of 2,893top 21%
Worst decline, past 10 years−54.3%639 of 2,187top 29%

What has beaten UMC on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). UMC sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than UMC with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to UMC; faint dots are 92 more of the 189 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than UMCVLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%PGR: +21.3% a year, volatility 25.6%PWR: +39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%VRTX: +22.6% a year, volatility 29.1%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%TT: +22.7% a year, volatility 27.7%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%WPM: +27.5% a year, volatility 36.9%ESLT: +39.8% a year, volatility 34.6%EME: +43.0% a year, volatility 35.3%ARGX: +24.1% a year, volatility 39.9%CBOE: +21.5% a year, volatility 25.1%IRM: +24.6% a year, volatility 30.3%CASY: +29.9% a year, volatility 29.3%CW: +30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%CAKE: +25.8% a year, volatility 39.9%RS: +24.8% a year, volatility 28.1%CHEF: +27.5% a year, volatility 39.8%HUBB: +21.0% a year, volatility 30.0%DTM: +24.5% a year, volatility 25.2%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%ALSN: +27.3% a year, volatility 29.9%MUSA: +26.1% a year, volatility 31.2%SNEX: +33.0% a year, volatility 37.3%NEU: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%HWM: +47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%VCTR: +28.1% a year, volatility 35.0%FSS: +23.3% a year, volatility 31.7%TFPM: +29.3% a year, volatility 37.7%ACA: +23.1% a year, volatility 34.0%ESE: +24.2% a year, volatility 31.1%NHC: +32.0% a year, volatility 28.5%QTUM: +22.8% a year, volatility 28.1%DHT: +38.7% a year, volatility 39.0%USLM: +35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%HWKN: +29.1% a year, volatility 36.5%SOXQ: +28.3% a year, volatility 38.9%SII: +24.9% a year, volatility 39.2%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ODC: +35.9% a year, volatility 36.9%NWPX: +32.5% a year, volatility 36.2%DBJP: +20.9% a year, volatility 19.2%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%GE: +36.0% a year, volatility 31.0%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%PBR: +50.3% a year, volatility 37.5%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%SAN: +31.7% a year, volatility 33.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%IBKR: +35.4% a year, volatility 35.4%SCCO: +32.0% a year, volatility 40.7%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%UBS: +25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%SU: +33.1% a year, volatility 32.5%TRGP: +41.8% a year, volatility 31.7%CNQ: +26.5% a year, volatility 32.5%BNY: +22.7% a year, volatility 24.4%WMB: +24.6% a year, volatility 24.0%ITUB: +26.3% a year, volatility 33.8%MAR: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%AEM: +29.5% a year, volatility 38.4%ING: +24.7% a year, volatility 31.1%IMO: +34.3% a year, volatility 32.0%MFC: +22.6% a year, volatility 24.0%HLT: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%LNG: +23.4% a year, volatility 30.2%CVE: +26.5% a year, volatility 39.4%URI: +24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%XLE: +22.6% a year, volatility 25.5%DB: +22.1% a year, volatility 37.4%NUE: +21.7% a year, volatility 37.4%BAP: +30.8% a year, volatility 30.3%KB: +25.3% a year, volatility 34.4%STLD: +32.2% a year, volatility 38.0%NWG: +27.7% a year, volatility 34.1%JBL: +35.8% a year, volatility 39.6%SBS: +39.1% a year, volatility 37.1%CIB: +32.9% a year, volatility 32.9%UMC: +19.9% a year, volatility 43.2%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%ASX: +48.8% a year, volatility 43.0%AVGO: +48.3% a year, volatility 44.5%KLAC: +38.7% a year, volatility 46.7%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%AMAT: +25.8% a year, volatility 47.4%ADI: +19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%SMH: +33.4% a year, volatility 36.9%HPE: +32.9% a year, volatility 42.2%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%MU: +68.1% a year, volatility 57.1%AMD: +35.7% a year, volatility 57.6%MTSI: +32.1% a year, volatility 47.3%HALO: +26.6% a year, volatility 40.4%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%KRT: +25.4% a year, volatility 44.1%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%INSW: +56.5% a year, volatility 40.5%UMCSPY (S&P 500)ASXKLACTSMAMATADISMHHPEMUAMDMTSIHALOMPCCAHLLYDXJKRTWMTFLTWINSW10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than UMCVLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%PGR: +21.3% a year, volatility 25.6%PWR: +39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%VRTX: +22.6% a year, volatility 29.1%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%TT: +22.7% a year, volatility 27.7%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%WPM: +27.5% a year, volatility 36.9%ESLT: +39.8% a year, volatility 34.6%EME: +43.0% a year, volatility 35.3%ARGX: +24.1% a year, volatility 39.9%CBOE: +21.5% a year, volatility 25.1%IRM: +24.6% a year, volatility 30.3%CASY: +29.9% a year, volatility 29.3%CW: +30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%CAKE: +25.8% a year, volatility 39.9%RS: +24.8% a year, volatility 28.1%CHEF: +27.5% a year, volatility 39.8%HUBB: +21.0% a year, volatility 30.0%DTM: +24.5% a year, volatility 25.2%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%ALSN: +27.3% a year, volatility 29.9%MUSA: +26.1% a year, volatility 31.2%SNEX: +33.0% a year, volatility 37.3%NEU: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%HWM: +47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%VCTR: +28.1% a year, volatility 35.0%FSS: +23.3% a year, volatility 31.7%TFPM: +29.3% a year, volatility 37.7%ACA: +23.1% a year, volatility 34.0%ESE: +24.2% a year, volatility 31.1%NHC: +32.0% a year, volatility 28.5%QTUM: +22.8% a year, volatility 28.1%DHT: +38.7% a year, volatility 39.0%USLM: +35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%HWKN: +29.1% a year, volatility 36.5%SOXQ: +28.3% a year, volatility 38.9%SII: +24.9% a year, volatility 39.2%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ODC: +35.9% a year, volatility 36.9%NWPX: +32.5% a year, volatility 36.2%DBJP: +20.9% a year, volatility 19.2%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%GE: +36.0% a year, volatility 31.0%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%PBR: +50.3% a year, volatility 37.5%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%SAN: +31.7% a year, volatility 33.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%IBKR: +35.4% a year, volatility 35.4%SCCO: +32.0% a year, volatility 40.7%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%UBS: +25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%SU: +33.1% a year, volatility 32.5%TRGP: +41.8% a year, volatility 31.7%CNQ: +26.5% a year, volatility 32.5%BNY: +22.7% a year, volatility 24.4%WMB: +24.6% a year, volatility 24.0%ITUB: +26.3% a year, volatility 33.8%MAR: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%AEM: +29.5% a year, volatility 38.4%ING: +24.7% a year, volatility 31.1%IMO: +34.3% a year, volatility 32.0%MFC: +22.6% a year, volatility 24.0%HLT: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%LNG: +23.4% a year, volatility 30.2%CVE: +26.5% a year, volatility 39.4%URI: +24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%XLE: +22.6% a year, volatility 25.5%DB: +22.1% a year, volatility 37.4%NUE: +21.7% a year, volatility 37.4%BAP: +30.8% a year, volatility 30.3%KB: +25.3% a year, volatility 34.4%STLD: +32.2% a year, volatility 38.0%NWG: +27.7% a year, volatility 34.1%JBL: +35.8% a year, volatility 39.6%SBS: +39.1% a year, volatility 37.1%CIB: +32.9% a year, volatility 32.9%UMC: +19.9% a year, volatility 43.2%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%ASX: +48.8% a year, volatility 43.0%AVGO: +48.3% a year, volatility 44.5%KLAC: +38.7% a year, volatility 46.7%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%AMAT: +25.8% a year, volatility 47.4%ADI: +19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%SMH: +33.4% a year, volatility 36.9%HPE: +32.9% a year, volatility 42.2%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%MU: +68.1% a year, volatility 57.1%AMD: +35.7% a year, volatility 57.6%MTSI: +32.1% a year, volatility 47.3%HALO: +26.6% a year, volatility 40.4%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%KRT: +25.4% a year, volatility 44.1%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%INSW: +56.5% a year, volatility 40.5%UMCSPY (S&P 500)ASXAVGOKLACTSMAMATADISMHHPEMUAMDMTSIHALOMPCCAHLLYDXJWMTFLTWINSW
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than UMC?

Investments that beat UMC over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat UMC over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks UMC's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than UMC follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than UMC's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× UMC's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than UMC's.

Screen the whole market against UMC for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 21 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with UMC?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
UMCUnited Microelectronics Corporation · this page
+19.9%43.2%0.63−54.3%+1,610%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.450.09%
Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against UMC. 6 of 18 passed at least one test.
ASXASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. · Semiconductors
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods+48.8%43.0%1.15−52.5%+967%0.71—
AVGOBroadcom Inc. · Semiconductors
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+48.3%44.5%1.11−48.3%+2,380%0.23—
KLACKLA Corporation · Semiconductor Equipment
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+38.7%46.7%0.94−46.3%+2,534%0.59—
TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited · Semiconductors
Higher return, lower volatility+31.5%38.5%0.91−56.6%+1,505%0.52—
AMATApplied Materials, Inc. · Semiconductor Equipment
Higher return, similar volatility+25.8%47.4%0.72−55.1%+1,488%0.60—
ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. · Semiconductors
Similar return, lower volatility+19.5%34.1%0.69−33.6%+652%0.53—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Semiconductors and the categories next to it (Semiconductor Equipment, Computer Hardware, Communications Equipment, Software), plus UMC's specific themes. 15 of 128 passed at least one test.
SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETF · Semiconductors
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+33.4%36.9%0.97−45.3%+1,665%0.720.35%
HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Company · Computer Hardware
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods+32.9%42.2%0.89−56.9%+483%0.54—
PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc. · Cybersecurity
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+31.9%43.4%0.86−48.0%+1,274%0.52—
MUMicron Technology, Inc. · Semiconductors
Higher return in most periods+68.1%57.1%1.20−57.6%+5,243%0.81—
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc. · Semiconductors
Higher return in most periods+35.7%57.6%0.82−65.5%+7,583%0.65—
MTSIMACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. · Semiconductors
Higher return, similar volatility+32.1%47.3%0.83−80.8%+588%0.61—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 306 of 3,487 passed at least one test.
HALOHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. · Biotechnology
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+26.6%40.4%0.79−49.1%+1,196%0.15—
MPCMarathon Petroleum Corporation · Oil & Gas
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+51.2%33.4%1.41−79.7%+1,387%0.02—
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.12—
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%0.16—
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.320.48%
KRTKarat Packaging Inc. · Packaging & Containers
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+25.4%44.1%0.74−48.4%—0.02—
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+20.8%22.6%0.96−25.7%+508%-0.08—
FLTWFranklin FTSE Taiwan ETF · Technology
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+21.8%24.3%0.94−38.0%—0.760.19%
What these numbers mean for UMC
Annual return
UMC returned 19.9% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $24,700. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
UMC's volatility over the past 5 years was 43.2%, 2.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, UMC's return lands within 43.2% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
UMC's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.63, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so UMC earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
UMC's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 54.3%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 54.3% fall takes a 119% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, UMC's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.45 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against UMC instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a UMC holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 189 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than UMC with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with UMCExpense
1
HALOHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+26.6%40.4%0.79−49.1%+1,196%0.15—
2
MPCMarathon Petroleum Corporation · Oil & Gas
Whole market+51.2%33.4%1.41−79.7%+1,387%0.02—
3
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.12—
4
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%0.16—
5
VLOValero Energy Corporation · Oil & Gas
Whole market+44.2%36.9%1.18−71.9%+1,061%0.03—
6
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%0.08—
7
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
Whole market+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.320.48%
8
CATCaterpillar Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+31.1%31.9%1.01−43.4%+936%0.39—
9
PMPhilip Morris International Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+21.0%23.4%0.94−42.9%+242%0.22—
10
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%-0.14—
11
APHAmphenol Corporation · Electronic Components
Whole market+33.8%32.2%1.07−37.5%+965%0.44—
12
GILDGilead Sciences, Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+22.8%24.9%0.95−30.5%+200%0.19—
13
MFGMizuho Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.6%30.6%1.10−45.7%+345%0.19—
14
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.7%29.4%1.14−47.6%+474%0.23—
15
PGRThe Progressive Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+21.3%25.6%0.89−30.3%+816%0.07—
16
PWRQuanta Services, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Whole market+39.3%37.2%1.08−45.5%+2,045%0.30—
17
VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated · Biotechnology
Whole market+22.6%29.1%0.85−41.6%+521%0.10—
18
TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+22.4%22.3%1.02−46.3%+347%-0.03—
19
TTTrane Technologies plc · Building Products
Whole market+22.7%27.7%0.88−40.5%+955%0.32—
20
CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+24.2%22.8%1.07−32.4%+406%-0.07—
21
GWWW.W. Grainger, Inc. · Industrial Distribution
Whole market+26.3%24.9%1.07−41.6%+654%0.21—
22
WPMWheaton Precious Metals Corp. · Metals & Mining
Whole market+27.5%36.9%0.85−46.7%+510%0.17—
23
ESLTElbit Systems Ltd. · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+39.8%34.6%1.15−35.4%+765%-0.08—
24
EMEEMCOR Group, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Whole market+43.0%35.3%1.20−48.0%+1,202%0.12—
25
ARGXargenx SE · Biotechnology
Whole market+24.1%39.9%0.74−38.2%—0.02—
26
CBOECboe Global Markets, Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+21.5%25.1%0.91−43.2%+463%-0.04—
27
IRMIron Mountain Incorporated · Specialty REITs
Whole market+24.6%30.3%0.88−39.0%+470%0.37—
28
CASYCasey's General Stores, Inc. · Convenience Stores
Whole market+29.9%29.3%1.04−36.1%+537%0.04—
29
CWCurtiss-Wright Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+30.8%28.7%1.08−48.7%+512%0.25—
30
CAKEThe Cheesecake Factory Incorporated · Restaurants
Whole market+25.8%39.9%0.78−75.6%+187%0.21—
31
RSReliance Steel & Aluminum Co. · Metals & Mining
Whole market+24.8%28.1%0.93−40.8%+626%0.29—
32
CHEFThe Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. · Food Distribution
Whole market+27.5%39.8%0.81−91.3%+787%0.21—
33
HUBBHubbell Incorporated · Electrical Equipment
Whole market+21.0%30.0%0.79−41.6%+442%0.08—
34
DTMDT Midstream, Inc. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+24.5%25.2%1.00−23.6%—0.09—
35
PBR-APetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+51.8%37.5%1.31−71.7%+768%-0.06—
36
ALSNAllison Transmission Holdings, Inc. · Auto Parts
Whole market+27.3%29.9%0.96−48.7%+367%0.02—
37
MUSAMurphy USA Inc. · Convenience Stores
Whole market+26.1%31.2%0.90−35.5%+706%-0.10—
38
SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETF · Semiconductors
Same or nearby category+33.4%36.9%0.97−45.3%+1,665%0.720.35%
39
SNEXStoneX Group Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+33.0%37.3%0.96−48.7%+670%0.23—
40
NEUNewMarket Corporation · Specialty Chemicals
Whole market+21.0%26.8%0.85−40.7%+165%0.25—
41
HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+47.3%32.5%1.36−68.9%+1,028%0.18—
42
VCTRVictory Capital Holdings, Inc. · Asset Management
Whole market+28.1%35.0%0.89−45.2%—0.18—
43
FSSFederal Signal Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+23.3%31.7%0.82−33.0%+882%0.12—
44
TFPMTriple Flag Precious Metals Corp. · Metals & Mining
Whole market+29.3%37.7%0.87−36.2%—-0.01—
45
ACAArcosa, Inc. · Construction Materials
Whole market+23.1%34.0%0.78−36.8%—0.24—
46
ESEESCO Technologies Inc. · Electronic Instruments
Whole market+24.2%31.1%0.85−46.0%+473%0.31—
47
NHCNational HealthCare Corporation · Medical - Care Facilities
Whole market+32.0%28.5%1.12−35.3%+394%0.26—
48
FLTWFranklin FTSE Taiwan ETF · Technology
Whole market+21.8%24.3%0.94−38.0%—0.760.19%
49
QTUMDefiance Quantum ETF · Technology
Whole market+22.8%28.1%0.87−38.5%—0.690.40%
50
DHTDHT Holdings, Inc. · Marine Shipping
Whole market+38.7%39.0%1.04−39.7%+1,050%-0.03—
51
USLMUnited States Lime & Minerals, Inc. · Construction Materials
Whole market+35.6%36.1%1.03−45.9%+803%-0.08—
52
MPLXMPLX Lp · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+23.5%18.8%1.22−75.2%+350%0.02—
53
HWKNHawkins, Inc. · Chemicals - Specialty
Whole market+29.1%36.5%0.89−44.8%+627%0.05—
54
SOXQInvesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF · Technology
Whole market+28.3%38.9%0.84−46.0%—0.760.19%
55
SIISprott Inc. · Asset Management
Whole market+24.9%39.2%0.76−49.2%+786%0.17—
56
XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+27.1%26.5%1.04−61.0%+214%-0.15—
57
ODCOil-Dri Corporation of America · Chemicals - Specialty
Whole market+35.9%36.9%1.02−48.9%+460%0.27—
58
NWPXNWPX Infrastructure, Inc. · Construction Materials
Whole market+32.5%36.2%0.96−46.5%+682%0.48—
59
DBJPXtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF · International
Whole market+20.9%19.2%1.09−31.3%+348%0.440.45%
60
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks
Whole market+33.1%25.9%1.24−62.3%+319%0.23—
61
GEGE Aerospace · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+36.0%31.0%1.15−80.9%+139%0.35—
62
MUFGMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.2%29.4%1.13−54.9%+483%0.17—
63
PBRPetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+50.3%37.5%1.28−75.3%+674%-0.07—
64
SHELShell plc · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+21.0%24.8%0.90−67.2%+233%-0.18—
65
INSWInternational Seaways, Inc. · Oil & Gas
Whole market+56.5%40.5%1.31−57.4%—-0.04—
66
WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+26.0%23.8%1.09−63.3%+379%0.21—
67
SANBanco Santander, S.A. · Banks
Whole market+31.7%33.9%0.99−73.8%+332%0.30—
68
BBVABanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. · Banks
Whole market+38.7%33.3%1.16−69.6%+542%0.17—
69
IBKRInteractive Brokers Group, Inc. · Investment Banking & Brokerage
Whole market+35.4%35.4%1.04−55.1%+935%0.20—
70
SCCOSouthern Copper Corporation · Metals & Mining
Whole market+32.0%40.7%0.89−55.3%+1,017%0.40—
71
PSXPhillips 66 · Oil & Gas
Whole market+33.2%32.9%1.04−64.2%+430%-0.03—
72
UBSUBS Group AG · Banks
Whole market+25.4%30.4%0.90−59.8%+374%0.24—
73
PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+27.4%28.8%0.99−54.7%+789%0.12—
74
SUSuncor Energy Inc. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+33.1%32.5%1.05−73.5%+295%-0.20—
75
TRGPTarga Resources Corp. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+41.8%31.7%1.27−90.8%+829%-0.01—
76
CNQCanadian Natural Resources Limited · Oil & Gas
Whole market+26.5%32.5%0.89−77.5%+433%-0.12—
77
BNYBank of New York Mellon Corp · Banks
Whole market+22.7%24.4%0.97−50.5%+341%0.19—
78
WMBThe Williams Companies, Inc. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+24.6%24.0%1.04−68.1%+288%0.08—
79
ITUBItaú Unibanco Holding S.A. · Banks
Whole market+26.3%33.8%0.86−62.1%+190%0.09—
80
MARMarriott International, Inc. · Hotels & Resorts
Whole market+22.0%28.6%0.84−61.3%+544%0.21—
81
EEni S.p.A. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+23.0%25.6%0.94−61.4%+278%-0.03—
82
AEMAgnico Eagle Mines Limited · Gold Mining
Whole market+29.5%38.4%0.87−54.2%+352%0.07—
83
INGING Groep N.V. · Banks
Whole market+24.7%31.1%0.87−74.4%+339%0.37—
84
IMOImperial Oil Limited · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+34.3%32.0%1.09−77.1%+430%-0.07—
85
MFCManulife Financial Corporation · Life Insurance
Whole market+22.6%24.0%0.97−57.5%+373%0.25—
86
HLTHilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. · Hotels & Resorts
Whole market+21.0%26.8%0.85−50.8%+694%0.21—
87
WABWestinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+25.6%26.2%1.00−64.1%+264%0.16—
88
LNGCheniere Energy, Inc. · Oil & Gas
Whole market+23.4%30.2%0.85−57.5%+616%-0.30—
89
CVECenovus Energy Inc. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+26.5%39.4%0.80−89.2%+163%-0.06—
90
URIUnited Rentals, Inc. · Equipment Rental
Whole market+24.3%39.1%0.75−63.3%+1,270%0.28—
91
XLEState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF · Energy Equity
Whole market+22.6%25.5%0.93−66.8%+189%-0.090.08%
92
DBDeutsche Bank AG · Banks
Whole market+22.1%37.4%0.72−72.7%+165%0.24—
93
NUENucor Corporation · Metals & Mining
Whole market+21.7%37.4%0.72−57.2%+569%0.25—
94
BAPCredicorp Ltd. · Banks
Whole market+30.8%30.3%1.04−59.2%+298%0.25—
95
KBKB Financial Group Inc. · Banks
Whole market+25.3%34.4%0.83−64.1%+390%0.16—
96
STLDSteel Dynamics, Inc. · Metals & Mining
Whole market+32.2%38.0%0.93−68.5%+1,018%0.27—
97
NWGNatWest Group plc · Banks
Whole market+27.7%34.1%0.89−67.4%+495%0.24—
98
JBLJabil Inc. · Electronics Manufacturing
Whole market+35.8%39.6%0.97−57.3%+1,264%0.40—
99
SBSCompanhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP · Water Utilities
Whole market+39.1%37.1%1.08−62.0%+293%0.12—
100
CIBGrupo Cibest S.A. · Banks
Whole market+32.9%32.9%1.03−70.4%+345%0.09—

UMC against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against UMC, compared period by period and year by year.

How do UMC's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at UMC, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than UMC with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityUMC: 19.9% a year, volatility 43.2%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%ASX: 48.9% a year, volatility 43.0%TSM: 31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%ASML: 17.3% a year, volatility 43.4%ON: 10.7% a year, volatility 55.9%STM: 2.2% a year, volatility 47.7%AMKR: 14.1% a year, volatility 56.2%MCHP: 2.5% a year, volatility 45.9%VSH: 10.3% a year, volatility 47.2%HIMX: 8.6% a year, volatility 62.8%INTC: 12.4% a year, volatility 55.6%LRCX: 37.4% a year, volatility 49.9%KLAC: 38.7% a year, volatility 46.7%AVGO: 48.3% a year, volatility 44.5%AMAT: 25.8% a year, volatility 47.4%TSEM: 42.4% a year, volatility 52.2%ADI: 19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%TXN: 9.9% a year, volatility 33.7%NXPI: 5.7% a year, volatility 42.3%UMCSPY (S&P 500)ASXTSMASMLONSTMAMKRMCHPVSHHIMXINTCLRCXKLACAMATTSEMADITXNNXPI10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityUMC: 19.9% a year, volatility 43.2%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%ASX: 48.9% a year, volatility 43.0%TSM: 31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%ASML: 17.3% a year, volatility 43.4%ON: 10.7% a year, volatility 55.9%STM: 2.2% a year, volatility 47.7%AMKR: 14.1% a year, volatility 56.2%MCHP: 2.5% a year, volatility 45.9%VSH: 10.3% a year, volatility 47.2%HIMX: 8.6% a year, volatility 62.8%INTC: 12.4% a year, volatility 55.6%LRCX: 37.4% a year, volatility 49.9%KLAC: 38.7% a year, volatility 46.7%AVGO: 48.3% a year, volatility 44.5%AMAT: 25.8% a year, volatility 47.4%TSEM: 42.4% a year, volatility 52.2%ADI: 19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%TXN: 9.9% a year, volatility 33.7%NXPI: 5.7% a year, volatility 42.3%UMCSPY (S&P 500)ASXTSMASMLONSTMAMKRMCHPVSHHIMXINTCLRCXKLACAVGOAMATTSEMADITXNNXPI
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
ASX ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.+48.9%43.0%
AVGO Broadcom Inc.+48.3%44.5%
TSEM Tower Semiconductor Ltd.+42.4%52.2%
KLAC KLA Corporation+38.7%46.7%
LRCX Lam Research Corporation+37.4%49.9%
TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited+31.5%38.5%
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc.+25.8%47.4%
UMC This pageUnited Microelectronics Corporation+19.9%43.2%
ADI Analog Devices, Inc.+19.5%34.1%
ASML ASML Holding N.V.+17.3%43.4%
AMKR Amkor Technology, Inc.+14.1%56.2%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
INTC Intel Corp.+12.4%55.6%
ON ON Semiconductor Corporation+10.7%55.9%
VSH Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.+10.3%47.2%
TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated+9.9%33.7%
HIMX Himax Technologies, Inc.+8.6%62.8%
NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V.+5.7%42.3%
MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated+2.5%45.9%
STM STMicroelectronics N.V.+2.2%47.7%
Open these 20 in EasyCompare

Has UMC consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares UMC with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than UMC helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than UMC over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
UMC United Microelectronics Corporation (this page)—−22.7%−3.1%+58.4%+155%+166%+202%+147%+1,610%43.2%0.63−54.3%—$49B—
ASX QualifiedASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.3/5 short2/3 long−6.8%+10.5%+40.6%+144%+217%+469%+631%+967%43.0%1.15−52.5%—$90B—
LRCX SemiconductorsLam Research Corporation1/5 short3/3 long−12.8%−14.0%+0.3%+42.8%+83.7%+350%+390%+2,989%49.9%0.89−56.4%—$330B—
KLAC SemiconductorsKLA Corporation1/5 short3/3 long−12.1%−22.0%−10.2%+27.4%+41.0%+258%+413%+2,534%46.7%0.94−46.3%—$211B—
AVGO SemiconductorsBroadcom Inc.1/5 short3/3 long−7.8%−11.4%−16.0%−3.3%−3.5%+305%+617%+2,380%44.5%1.11−48.3%—$1.6T—
TSM SemiconductorsTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited2/5 short2/3 long−4.5%+5.9%+16.6%+34.0%+44.3%+382%+293%+1,505%38.5%0.91−56.6%—$2.2T—
AMAT SemiconductorsApplied Materials, Inc.1/5 short2/3 long−12.8%−22.9%+3.7%+51.2%+78.5%+209%+215%+1,488%47.4%0.72−55.1%—$321B—
TSEM SemiconductorsTower Semiconductor Ltd.1/5 short2/3 long−21.4%−19.1%−18.1%+51.0%+144%+737%+487%+1,058%52.2%0.93−62.3%—$21B—
ADI SemiconductorsAnalog Devices, Inc.2/5 short0/3 long+3.7%+6.9%+4.8%+46.3%+63.3%+150%+144%+652%34.1%0.69−33.6%—$192B—
TXN SemiconductorsTexas Instruments Incorporated2/5 short0/3 long+2.6%−1.7%+20.1%+59.1%+58.7%+105%+60.5%+424%33.7%0.45−33.4%—$254B—
ASML SemiconductorsASML Holding N.V.1/5 short0/3 long−4.7%−6.1%+10.8%+40.8%+57.5%+188%+123%+1,628%43.4%0.59−56.9%—$630B—
ON SemiconductorsON Semiconductor Corporation1/5 short0/3 long+5.4%−12.8%−11.6%+33.4%+37.8%−10.9%+66.0%+540%55.9%0.46−70.4%—$29B—
STM SemiconductorsSTMicroelectronics N.V.1/5 short0/3 long−11.2%−25.8%+3.3%+68.2%+52.9%+18.8%+11.6%+525%47.7%0.28−66.6%—$41B—
AMKR SemiconductorsAmkor Technology, Inc.1/5 short0/3 long−20.1%−33.2%−39.8%−2.4%+30.1%+97.6%+93.5%+363%56.2%0.52−65.9%—$10B—
MCHP SemiconductorsMicrochip Technology Incorporated1/5 short0/3 long+1.4%−5.2%−4.6%+18.6%+16.0%+8.5%+13.0%+207%45.9%0.28−63.8%—$41B—
NXPI SemiconductorsNXP Semiconductors N.V.1/5 short0/3 long+2.2%−10.7%+8.2%+8.8%+10.0%+34.9%+31.9%+159%42.3%0.34−53.3%—$60B—
VSH SemiconductorsVishay Intertechnology, Inc.1/5 short0/3 long−12.4%−23.3%+9.0%+88.8%+66.1%+32.0%+62.9%+146%47.2%0.44−63.5%—$4.0B—
HIMX SemiconductorsHimax Technologies, Inc.1/5 short0/3 long−18.9%−6.6%+9.7%+41.4%+26.6%+135%+51.0%+105%62.8%0.44−86.7%—$2.1B—
GFS SemiconductorsGLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.1/5 short0/3 long−3.0%−17.0%−19.7%+28.0%+32.7%−13.2%————−61.5%—$26B—
INTC SemiconductorsIntel Corp.0/5 short0/3 long−24.7%−5.5%+39.6%+133%+141%+167%+79.8%+219%55.6%0.49−70.8%—$485B—
Open these 20 in EasyCompare

How did UMC do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2001, along with where UMC ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with UMC and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of UMC; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places UMC among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of UMC2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001
UMC This pageUnited Microelectronics Corporation—+28.7%−19.0%+39.0%−40.3%+43.1%+232%+55.4%−21.9%+42.2%−2.7%−13.2%+15.2%+5.7%−2.8%−26.9%−16.8%+98.2%−37.7%−28.9%+15.3%−2.2%−23.6%+52.9%−58.0%+33.7%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 2 of 2512 of 2013 of 2012 of 2017 of 2011 of 191 of 1910 of 1911 of 1910 of 1917 of 1916 of 1914 of 1917 of 1915 of 1913 of 1918 of 186 of 173 of 1717 of 178 of 1612 of 168 of 1614 of 1615 of 166 of 16
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF14 of 25+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%
ASX ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.17 of 25+65.7%+10.1%+60.7%−13.0%+38.3%+8.1%+53.7%−37.2%+33.6%−7.4%−1.4%+32.5%+17.0%+1.3%−23.4%+31.1%+156%−63.2%−9.1%+25.8%+20.1%−25.6%+73.3%−33.5%+43.0%
LRCX Lam Research Corporation18 of 25+139%−6.9%+88.6%−40.7%+53.7%+64.2%+119%−24.4%+75.1%+35.3%+1.5%+46.5%+51.0%−2.5%−28.5%+31.9%+84.1%−50.7%−14.6%+41.6%+23.5%−10.5%+199%−53.4%+59.7%
KLAC KLA Corporation20 of 25+94.5%+9.4%+56.0%−11.2%+68.1%+47.9%+104%−12.4%+36.7%+17.0%+2.1%+39.4%+39.0%+2.1%+28.8%+9.9%+69.8%−53.5%−2.7%+1.9%+6.2%−20.3%+65.8%−28.7%+46.6%
AVGO Broadcom Inc.14 of 16+50.6%+110%+104%−13.3%+56.5%+45.0%+29.0%+2.2%+48.2%+23.6%+46.1%+93.4%+70.0%+12.0%+3.0%+55.4%—————————
TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited20 of 25+55.7%+92.0%+41.8%−37.0%+11.7%+91.6%+63.3%−4.3%+37.9%+31.2%+4.9%+31.1%+4.5%+37.7%+7.3%+14.9%+52.9%−16.1%−4.3%+18.9%+27.1%−4.2%+56.7%−54.8%+39.5%
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc.17 of 25+59.6%+1.1%+68.0%−37.5%+83.6%+43.3%+89.9%−34.9%+59.8%+75.7%−23.5%+43.7%+58.6%+10.2%−21.9%+3.0%+40.4%−42.1%−2.6%+3.8%+5.4%−23.8%+72.3%−35.0%+5.0%
TSEM Tower Semiconductor Ltd.15 of 25+128%+68.8%−29.3%+8.9%+53.7%+7.3%+63.2%−56.8%+79.1%+35.4%+5.5%+128%−26.5%−15.9%−55.3%+45.4%+617%−90.3%−18.7%+17.9%−35.8%−71.4%+145%−49.1%−40.1%
ADI Analog Devices, Inc.14 of 25+29.8%+8.8%+23.4%−4.9%+21.0%+26.9%+41.3%−1.6%+25.3%+35.0%+2.4%+12.2%+24.7%+21.2%−2.4%+22.7%+71.5%−38.0%−1.5%−6.7%−1.9%−18.7%+91.4%−46.2%−13.3%
TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated16 of 25−4.5%+13.1%+6.4%−9.9%+17.5%+31.7%+39.6%−7.2%+46.8%+36.7%+5.1%+25.1%+46.3%+7.9%−8.8%+27.0%+72.0%−52.8%+17.0%−9.8%+30.7%−15.9%+96.6%−46.2%−40.8%
ASML ASML Holding N.V.19 of 25+55.8%−7.7%+39.9%−30.5%+64.1%+66.3%+93.2%−9.7%+56.5%+27.9%−17.1%+16.2%+46.9%+19.7%+10.4%+13.2%+90.9%−41.4%+22.3%+22.7%+26.1%−20.6%+140%−51.0%−24.4%
ON ON Semiconductor Corporation16 of 25−14.1%−24.5%+33.9%−8.2%+108%+34.3%+47.7%−21.1%+64.1%+30.2%−3.3%+22.9%+16.9%−8.7%−21.9%+12.0%+159%−61.7%+17.3%+36.9%+21.8%−29.9%+373%−33.8%−60.6%
STM STMicroelectronics N.V.11 of 25+5.3%−49.6%+41.6%−26.8%+32.4%+38.9%+96.4%−35.7%+95.1%+76.9%−6.7%−2.5%+15.2%+30.1%−40.6%+15.9%+43.9%−52.3%−21.1%+2.9%−6.1%−28.1%+39.0%−38.3%−26.0%
AMKR Amkor Technology, Inc.13 of 25+55.9%−20.8%+40.4%−2.3%+65.5%+16.4%+98.2%−34.7%−4.8%+73.4%−14.3%+15.8%+44.5%−2.7%−41.2%+3.5%+229%−74.5%−8.7%+66.9%−16.2%−63.2%+281%−70.3%+3.3%
MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated13 of 25+14.6%−34.9%+30.9%−18.0%+27.5%+33.7%+48.1%−16.7%+39.5%+41.6%+6.3%+4.0%+42.4%−7.1%+10.3%+24.6%+57.8%−34.8%−0.7%+4.4%+22.6%−19.9%+36.8%−5.1%+76.5%
NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V.10 of 15+6.4%−8.0%+48.4%−29.2%+44.8%+26.6%+75.7%−37.0%+19.5%+16.3%+10.3%+66.3%+74.5%+71.2%−26.6%——————————
VSH Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.10 of 25−12.2%−27.9%+13.0%+0.7%+7.4%−0.5%+20.6%−11.9%+30.0%+37.1%−13.1%+8.5%+24.7%+18.2%−38.8%+124%+144%−70.0%−15.7%−1.6%−8.3%−34.5%+105%−42.6%+28.9%
HIMX Himax Technologies, Inc.8 of 19+5.9%+37.2%+4.7%−54.9%+120%+179%−22.7%−66.6%+77.5%−25.4%+5.3%−42.7%+544%+149%−55.2%−7.2%+88.3%−59.9%−6.1%——————
GFS GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.1 of 4−18.6%−29.2%+12.4%−17.1%—————————————————————
INTC Intel Corp.13 of 25+84.0%−59.6%+94.5%−46.6%+6.0%−14.7%+30.7%+4.2%+30.9%+8.7%−2.2%+44.3%+30.9%−12.0%+19.4%+6.3%+43.9%−43.5%+34.2%−17.2%+8.1%−26.6%+107%−50.3%+4.9%
Open these 21 in EasyCompare

Risk and diversification

How UMC has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were UMC's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents UMC's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2000, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means UMC fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringUMC fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
Dot-com bust−86.0%−33.6%Sep 2000Oct 20088.1 yearsNov 202012.1 years
2022 bear market−54.3%−22.4%Dec 2021Oct 202210 monthsJan 20263.3 years
No named crash−38.1%−0.5%Jun 2026Jul 20261 monthNot yet—
No named crash−31.1%−8.9%Jan 2026Mar 20262 monthsApr 20261 month
No named crash−26.9%−0.5%Apr 2021May 20211 monthAug 20213 months

How did UMC do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far UMC, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Note: UMC began trading on September 19, 2000, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than UMC.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
UMC This pageUnited Microelectronics Corporation—−2.0%−51.0%−17.1%−36.2%−4.4%−16.6%−24.9%0.0%−63.0%Not yet trading
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF5 of 9−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
ASX ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.2 of 9−4.7%−37.4%−36.5%−25.1%−8.0%−19.3%−26.2%0.0%−75.3%—
LRCX Lam Research Corporation2 of 9−3.3%−55.1%−43.7%−22.9%−9.5%−20.5%−20.1%−2.2%−73.3%−87.9%
KLAC KLA Corporation4 of 9−5.9%−37.6%−33.8%−21.6%−7.5%−13.5%−23.0%−2.8%−71.8%−73.2%
AVGO Broadcom Inc.2 of 8−2.8%−34.3%−46.8%−15.2%−4.5%−21.6%−26.7%0.0%——
TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited4 of 9−3.9%−54.3%−23.3%−21.4%−9.3%−13.2%−15.7%0.0%−48.0%−82.4%
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc.2 of 9−3.6%−54.2%−43.6%−26.4%−9.7%−18.8%−24.5%−1.6%−61.7%−82.0%
TSEM Tower Semiconductor Ltd.3 of 9−1.0%−21.7%−39.0%−39.6%−3.3%−30.9%−44.6%0.0%−94.2%−91.5%
ADI Analog Devices, Inc.4 of 9−2.6%−22.6%−33.6%−18.1%−7.2%−22.7%−18.6%−1.2%−55.0%−82.0%
TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated4 of 9−2.6%−21.7%−29.8%−19.5%−9.3%−18.4%−21.6%−1.3%−61.4%−85.4%
ASML ASML Holding N.V.3 of 9−2.9%−48.4%−37.9%−24.4%−7.5%−22.1%−17.7%−2.7%−64.1%−90.0%
ON ON Semiconductor Corporation2 of 9−6.4%−34.0%−59.6%−23.7%−12.2%−39.2%−28.5%0.0%−80.0%—
STM STMicroelectronics N.V.2 of 9−3.2%−40.6%−49.6%−31.0%−9.1%−31.6%−36.9%−3.2%−77.2%−83.5%
AMKR Amkor Technology, Inc.2 of 9−5.9%−39.9%−55.5%−26.5%−9.3%−25.1%−33.8%−0.8%−87.5%−98.2%
MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated4 of 9−3.8%−35.3%−49.0%−25.9%−14.4%−18.6%−12.7%−0.4%−55.2%−58.7%
NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V.2 of 7−4.2%−38.8%−52.0%−27.4%−4.0%−35.5%−39.8%———
VSH Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.2 of 9−2.4%−22.2%−42.4%−21.6%−20.8%−16.4%−46.6%−2.0%−84.8%−88.5%
HIMX Himax Technologies, Inc.0 of 9−5.4%−56.8%−61.3%−51.5%−9.8%−27.2%−42.2%−1.4%−82.2%—
GFS GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.0 of 2−5.1%−50.8%————————
INTC Intel Corp.4 of 9−1.0%−54.1%−33.5%−13.0%−6.7%−19.7%−16.2%−0.9%−55.2%−82.3%
Open these 21 in EasyCompare

How closely does UMC move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares UMC with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than UMC's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
UMC This pageUnited Microelectronics Corporation133%52%2.561.33
KLAC KLA Corporation152%59%2.571.32
AVGO Broadcom Inc.158%86%1.851.19
TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited138%75%1.841.15
LRCX Lam Research Corporation183%104%1.751.56
ASX ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.126%79%1.591.38
AMAT Applied Materials, Inc.152%97%1.581.51
TSEM Tower Semiconductor Ltd.143%95%1.501.11
ASML ASML Holding N.V.170%132%1.291.44
ADI Analog Devices, Inc.117%92%1.261.20
STM STMicroelectronics N.V.122%104%1.171.72
TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated113%108%1.041.18
INTC Intel Corp.98%100%0.981.43
AMKR Amkor Technology, Inc.152%174%0.881.94
ON ON Semiconductor Corporation161%185%0.871.95
MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated127%170%0.751.72
VSH Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.118%160%0.741.61
NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V.115%157%0.731.63
HIMX Himax Technologies, Inc.133%197%0.682.12
Open these 19 in EasyCompare

What diversifies UMC?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with UMC's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing UMC with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which UMC lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% UMC and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202420222018201620152012201120102008200720052004200280/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
UMC United Microelectronics Corporation (this page)1.00+147%0.63−19.0%−40.3%−21.9%−2.7%−13.2%−2.8%−26.9%−16.8%−37.7%−28.9%−2.2%−23.6%−58.0%54.0%+22.9%
LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF0.18+119%1.48+15.9%+3.8%−5.2%——————————43.6%+23.9%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.32+225%1.34+29.8%+6.0%−19.8%+1.1%+7.7%+19.6%−16.1%−1.8%−20.8%−7.4%———44.1%+25.8%
EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund0.08+101%1.04+33.4%+10.4%−8.7%+29.8%−25.3%————————43.6%+23.7%
HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF0.16+83.3%1.00+14.1%+7.1%−3.0%+15.9%−0.3%+9.6%———————43.8%+22.9%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.45+85.0%0.96+13.4%−5.1%−9.5%+6.3%+4.1%+20.9%———————44.3%+22.9%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.07+126%0.96+26.7%−0.8%−1.9%+8.0%−10.7%+6.6%+9.6%+29.3%+4.9%+30.4%+17.8%——43.6%+24.4%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF-0.09+177%0.93+5.6%+64.4%−18.2%+28.0%−21.5%+5.2%+2.8%+21.9%−39.0%+36.8%+40.1%+33.8%−14.8%43.1%+26.1%
VTV Broad MarketVanguard Morningstar Value ETF0.35+76.6%0.90+16.0%−2.1%−5.5%+17.1%−1.0%+15.2%+1.1%+14.5%−35.9%−0.1%+7.2%——44.3%+22.7%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202420222018201620152012201120102008200720052004200280/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
UMC United Microelectronics Corporation (this page)1.00+147%0.63−19.0%−40.3%−21.9%−2.7%−13.2%−2.8%−26.9%−16.8%−37.7%−28.9%−2.2%−23.6%−58.0%54.0%+22.9%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.12+479%1.55+19.0%+54.1%−24.5%−17.5%+12.6%+3.8%+8.1%+21.4%−39.6%−9.8%+18.7%−4.7%−8.3%44.2%+28.3%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.08+3,143%1.47+215%+1.3%−16.3%+7.4%−6.0%+11.2%−24.4%+2.8%−20.5%−25.7%−25.2%−6.4%−65.1%45.7%+42.4%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.0.22+1,636%1.46+107%+17.0%+0.8%+18.3%+67.7%+15.7%−17.0%+8.7%−15.2%+2.1%+20.1%+40.0%−9.4%46.0%+37.3%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation-0.14+413%1.44+23.7%+51.8%−28.4%−28.3%−4.5%+25.6%+11.8%+13.8%−40.4%+29.7%+64.9%−1.4%−27.2%42.8%+28.3%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.02+690%1.41−4.0%+86.6%−8.2%+0.7%+17.4%+94.3%———————43.8%+31.0%
Open these 14 in EasyCompare

Common questions

What was UMC's worst drawdown?

UMC's deepest decline since it began trading in 2000 was 86.0%, from September 2000 to October 2008. It took about 12 years from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were UMC's best and worst years?

Over 25 full calendar years, UMC's best year was 2020, when it returned 232%. Its worst was 2002, with a return of -58.0%.

Is there a better investment than UMC?

Among UMC's popular alternatives, TSM earned more than UMC with less volatility over the past 5 years: 31.5% a year at 38.5% volatility, against 19.9% a year at 43.2%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, SMH (semiconductors) earned more than UMC with less volatility over the past 5 years: 33.4% a year at 36.9% volatility, against 19.9% a year at 43.2%.

Is UMC more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. UMC's volatility over the past 5 years was 43.2%, 2.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, UMC's return lands within 43.2% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is UMC's Sharpe ratio?

UMC's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.63, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so UMC earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is UMC with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, UMC's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.45 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against UMC instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a UMC holding.

What are the best alternatives to UMC?

Of the 19 popular alternatives we compared, one outperformed UMC in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: ASX.

Did UMC outperform the S&P 500?

UMC finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in ten of 25 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +28.7%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did UMC do in stock market crashes?

UMC fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in four of the nine major crashes it has traded through, and further in five. The clearest case was the 2022 bear market, when UMC fell 51.0% and the S&P 500 fell 24.5%.

What diversifies UMC?

These had a low correlation with UMC over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.18), DXJ (correlation 0.32) and EMLP (correlation 0.08); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.12), CLS (correlation 0.08) and FIX (correlation 0.22). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to UMC