- ISIN
- US9219083071
- CUSIP
- 921908307
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Inception Date
- May 23, 1984
- Category
- Health & Biotech Equities
- Min. Investment
- $3,000
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Assets Under Management
- $37B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
VGHCX Performance Chart
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) is down 1.5% since the beginning of the year. VGHCX is currently trading at $193 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VGHCX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,388.
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Returns By Period
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) has returned -1.52% so far this year and 17.50% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VGHCX has returned 9.29% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.53% annually.
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares
- 1D
- -1.24%
- 1M
- 1.48%
- YTD
- -1.52%
- 6M
- -0.63%
- 1Y
- 17.50%
- 3Y*
- 9.18%
- 5Y*
- 6.77%
- 10Y*
- 9.29%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- 1.75%
- 1M
- -0.09%
- YTD
- 8.02%
- 6M
- 7.15%
- 1Y
- 22.78%
- 3Y*
- 19.45%
- 5Y*
- 11.73%
- 10Y*
- 13.53%
VGHCX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since May 23, 1984, VGHCX's average daily return is +0.06%, while the average monthly return is +1.21%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 4.8 years.
Historically, 65% of months were positive and 35% were negative. The best month was Jan 1987 with a return of +15.2%, while the worst month was Oct 1987 at -25.6%. The longest winning streak lasted 18 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.
On a daily basis, VGHCX closed higher 54% of trading days. The best single day was Dec 20, 2024 with a return of +21.1%, while the worst single day was Oct 22, 1987 at -16.7%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.05% | 3.13% | -6.02% | 0.02% | 1.41% | 0.13% | -1.52% | ||||||
| 2025 | 5.36% | -1.15% | -1.50% | -0.33% | -4.32% | 1.28% | -2.70% | 5.18% | 3.63% | 5.14% | 9.26% | -0.88% | 19.63% |
| 2024 | 0.70% | 2.71% | 1.63% | -2.90% | 3.25% | 2.79% | 2.86% | 5.24% | -4.26% | -5.46% | -0.61% | 3.32% | 8.99% |
| 2023 | -0.23% | -4.14% | 3.92% | 4.11% | -2.74% | 2.96% | -0.04% | -0.74% | -3.85% | -4.21% | 5.75% | 5.32% | 5.46% |
| 2022 | -7.37% | 0.03% | 4.59% | -4.55% | 0.06% | -1.13% | 3.84% | -4.67% | -2.32% | 7.67% | 5.84% | -1.89% | -1.05% |
| 2021 | 1.34% | -3.12% | 1.59% | 3.44% | 2.50% | 4.40% | 0.69% | 3.10% | -4.87% | 2.86% | -5.24% | 7.61% | 14.36% |
Benchmark Metrics
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares has an annualized alpha of 8.03%, beta of 0.65, and R2 of 0.57 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since May 23, 1984.
- This fund participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (86.43%) than losses (60.12%) - typical of diversified or defensive assets.
- This fund generated an annualized alpha of 8.03% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- Beta of 0.65 indicates this fund moves significantly less than S&P 500 Index - a genuinely defensive profile with reduced participation in both market rallies and downturns.
- Alpha
- 8.03%
- Beta
- 0.65
- R²
- 0.57
- Upside Capture
- 86.43%
- Downside Capture
- 60.12%
Expense Ratio
VGHCX has an expense ratio of 0.30%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
VGHCX ranks 29 for risk / return — below 29% of mutual funds on our site. The returns aren't fully compensating for the risk involved. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but factor it into your decision — especially if you're risk-averse.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VGHCX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.69 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.34 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.89 | 2.52 | -0.63 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.91 | 11.31 | -6.40 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares provided a 6.71% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $12.98 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $12.98 | $12.28 | $41.44 | $14.99 | $11.59 | $18.88 | $17.18 | $24.60 | $17.34 | $15.01 | $15.78 | $17.97 |
Dividend yield | 6.71% | 6.00% | 22.72% | 7.17% | 5.44% | 8.31% | 7.96% | 11.82% | 9.10% | 7.30% | 8.54% | 8.16% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $7.66 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $7.66 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $6.96 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $5.32 | $12.28 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $6.16 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $35.28 | $41.44 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $6.73 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $8.25 | $14.99 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $7.72 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3.87 | $11.59 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3.33 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $15.55 | $18.88 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares was 36.93%, occurring on Mar 5, 2009. Recovery took 451 trading sessions.
The current Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares drawdown is 4.55%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -36.93%Mar 2009 | 1y 10mo | 1y 9mo | 3y 7moMay 2007 - Dec 2010 |
Black Monday1987 | -35.92%Oct 1987 | 2mo 15d | 1y 5mo | 1y 7moAug 1987 - Apr 1989 |
2003 bear market2003 | -29.94%Mar 2003 | 2y 2mo | 10mo 16d | 3y 24dDec 2000 - Jan 2004 |
COVID crash2020 | -27.18%Mar 2020 | 1mo 9d | 2mo 7d | 3mo 16dFeb 2020 - May 2020 |
2016 correction2016 | -18.83%Feb 2016 | 6mo 25d | 1y 3mo | 1y 10moJul 2015 - Jun 2017 |
Drawdown Indicators
| VGHCX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.93% | -56.78% | +19.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.20% | -9.10% | -0.10% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.08% | -18.90% | +2.82% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.95% | -25.43% | +8.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -27.18% | -33.92% | +6.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.55% | -2.83% | -1.72% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.25% | -10.72% | +5.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.53% | 2.02% | +1.51% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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