After stumbling into an old article in Electronic Design (see
http://defenseelectronicsmag.com/site-files/defenseelectronicsmag.com/files/archive/rfdesign.com/mag/511RFDF3.pdf ) I decided to complete a similar evaluation of the SMD resistors which I already have in stock. I measured the resistor's return loss and its series resistance and reactance from 5 kHz - 900 MHz. Stray reactance in my test procedure invalidates readings above that frequency using my Array Solutions AIM-UHF impedance analyzer.
For a simple beginning I thought that I would start with my 1k resistors. Most axial resistors with values of around 200 ohms and under have reactance which don't significantly affect its impedance up to the mid-VHF frequencies. It becomes hard to find axial resistors with values of 10k and above which aren't seriously limited by their reactance.
The Panasonic ERJ-6ENF1001V resistors were the clear winners in the 2012 size SMD category. The Arcol/Ohmite APC0603B1K00N were significantly better than my economy Yageo 1608 resistors. I threw in some axial resistors for comparison. They came out better than I expected. The IRC/TT CMF1/41001FLFTR resistors were the best of those available. Other brand/model axial resistors of different values which I have had significantly worse performance.
I'm not sure who made the EF Johnson numbered resistors which I included in the tests.
I have many other brand and model SMD resistors in other values which I didn't include. I skipped the 988 and 1,010 ohm resistors which I also have as well as many more additional values.
For reference I also included my evaluations of two of the RF resistors which I have. I included the Vishay 50 ohm FC0603E50R0BTBST1 20 GHz 0.1% and 221 ohm FC0805E2210DTWS 20 GHz 0.5% resistors. Check out the attachments below.