FHLC vs. VHT

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT).

FHLC and VHT are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FHLC is a passively managed fund by Fidelity that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index. It was launched on Oct 21, 2013. VHT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both FHLC and VHT are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

FHLC vs. VHT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

FHLC vs. VHT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
FHLC Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF	-4.97%	15.42%	2.48%	2.58%	-5.55%	20.39%	18.13%	21.94%	4.71%	23.34%
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF	-5.04%	15.46%	2.66%	2.52%	-5.60%	20.57%	18.29%	21.87%	5.58%	23.26%

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with FHLC having a -4.97% return and VHT slightly lower at -5.04%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with FHLC having a 9.60% annualized return and VHT not far ahead at 9.72%.

FHLC

• 1D: 2.28%
• 1M: -7.46%
• YTD: -4.97%
• 6M: 5.95%
• 1Y: 4.53%
• 3Y*: 6.14%
• 5Y*: 5.07%
• 10Y*: 9.60%

VHT

• 1D: 2.24%
• 1M: -7.50%
• YTD: -5.04%
• 6M: 5.91%
• 1Y: 4.70%
• 3Y*: 6.16%
• 5Y*: 5.09%
• 10Y*: 9.72%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

FHLC vs. VHT - Expense Ratio Comparison

FHLC has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than VHT's 0.10% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

VHT

Vanguard Health Care ETF

FHLC

Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF

Return for Risk

FHLC vs. VHT — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

FHLC

FHLC Risk / Return Rank: 21
FHLC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 20
FHLC Sortino Ratio Rank: 20
FHLC Omega Ratio Rank: 19
FHLC Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
FHLC Martin Ratio Rank: 21

VHT

VHT Risk / Return Rank: 21
VHT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 20
VHT Sortino Ratio Rank: 20
VHT Omega Ratio Rank: 19
VHT Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
VHT Martin Ratio Rank: 21

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

FHLC vs. VHT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	FHLC	VHT	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.26	0.27	-0.01
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.48	0.49	-0.01
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.06	1.06	0.00
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.51	0.51	0.00
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.08	1.09	-0.02
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

FHLC vs. VHT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FHLC Sharpe Ratio is 0.26, which is comparable to the VHT Sharpe Ratio of 0.27. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FHLC and VHT, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	FHLC	VHT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.26	0.27	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.34	0.34	0.00
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.57	0.58	0.00
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.61	0.56	+0.05

Correlation

The correlation between FHLC and VHT is 0.99, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

FHLC vs. VHT - Dividend Comparison

FHLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.44%, less than VHT's 1.73% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
FHLC Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF	1.44%	1.40%	1.51%	1.40%	1.30%	1.16%	1.45%	1.18%	1.38%	1.38%	1.40%	2.07%
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF	1.73%	1.61%	1.53%	1.36%	1.33%	1.14%	1.21%	1.89%	1.38%	1.31%	1.45%	1.22%

Drawdowns

FHLC vs. VHT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FHLC drawdown since its inception was -28.76%, smaller than the maximum VHT drawdown of -39.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FHLC and VHT.

Drawdown Indicators

	FHLC	VHT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-28.76%	-39.12%	+10.36%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.38%	-10.40%	+0.02%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-17.73%	-17.71%	-0.02%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-28.76%	-28.85%	+0.09%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.99%	-8.05%	+0.06%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.16%	-5.98%	+0.82%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.04%	4.96%	+0.08%

Volatility

FHLC vs. VHT - Volatility Comparison

Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) have volatilities of 5.14% and 5.10%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	FHLC	VHT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.14%	5.10%	+0.04%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.26%	10.28%	-0.02%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.61%	17.61%	0.00%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.85%	14.85%	0.00%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.82%	16.94%	-0.12%