HEAL.L vs. URTH

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

HEAL.L (iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF USD (Acc)) and URTH (iShares MSCI World ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - HEAL.L is a Health & Biotech Equities fund tracking the MSCI World/Health Care NR USD, while URTH is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI World Index (Net). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, HEAL.L returned -2.41%/yr vs 11.21%/yr for URTH. At a 0.48 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. HEAL.L charges 0.40%/yr vs 0.24%/yr for URTH.

Performance

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (HEAL.L) and iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, HEAL.L achieves a 3.99% return, which is significantly lower than URTH's 8.00% return.

HEAL.L

• 1D: 1.63%
• 1M: 6.71%
• YTD: 3.99%
• 6M: 3.19%
• 1Y: 25.07%
• 3Y*: 8.08%
• 5Y*: -2.41%
• 10Y*: —

URTH

• 1D: 0.15%
• 1M: -1.66%
• YTD: 8.00%
• 6M: 6.87%
• 1Y: 21.75%
• 3Y*: 19.72%
• 5Y*: 11.21%
• 10Y*: 13.69%

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

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
HEAL.L iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	3.99%	18.53%	0.93%	3.11%	-24.00%	-6.52%	54.05%	12.48%	-3.57%	36.03%
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF	8.00%	21.36%	18.66%	23.95%	-17.97%	22.27%	15.78%	28.15%	-8.56%	22.95%

Correlation

The correlation between HEAL.L and URTH is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.43
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.44
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.47
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 8, 2016	0.48

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	HEAL.L	URTH
Healthcare	95.5%	8.6%
Technology	1.2%	32.8%
Industrials	0.5%	10.0%
Basic Materials	0.4%	2.8%
Financial Services	0.2%	15.8%
Consumer Defensive	0.1%	4.7%
Communication Services	-	8.6%
Consumer Cyclical	-	8.5%
Energy	-	3.7%
Real Estate	-	1.2%
Utilities	-	2.6%

Return for Risk

HEAL.L vs. URTH — Risk / Return Rank

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

HEAL.L

HEAL.L Risk / Return Rank: 43
HEAL.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
HEAL.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
HEAL.L Omega Ratio Rank: 41
HEAL.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 45
HEAL.L Martin Ratio Rank: 34

URTH

URTH Risk / Return Rank: 60
URTH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 61
URTH Sortino Ratio Rank: 59
URTH Omega Ratio Rank: 58
URTH Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
URTH Martin Ratio Rank: 67

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.

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (HEAL.L) and iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH). 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.

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.

	HEAL.L	URTH	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.40	1.73	-0.33
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.13	2.41	-0.28
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.24	1.31	-0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.98	2.41	-0.43
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.67	10.58	-5.90

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current HEAL.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.40, which is comparable to the URTH Sharpe Ratio of 1.73. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of HEAL.L and URTH, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum HEAL.L drawdown since its inception was -46.38%, which is greater than URTH's maximum drawdown of -34.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HEAL.L and URTH.

Drawdown Indicators

	HEAL.L	URTH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-46.38%	-34.01%	-12.37%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.59%	-9.06%	-3.53%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-21.45%	-16.94%	-4.51%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-43.65%	-26.05%	-17.60%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-34.01%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-17.28%	-2.70%	-14.58%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-18.60%	-4.36%	-14.24%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.35%	2.06%	+3.29%

Volatility

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Volatility Comparison

iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (HEAL.L) has a higher volatility of 5.99% compared to iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) at 4.64%. This indicates that HEAL.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than URTH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	HEAL.L	URTH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.99%	4.64%	+1.35%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.66%	10.22%	+3.44%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.78%	12.60%	+5.18%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.95%	16.27%	+3.68%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.94%	17.20%	+2.74%

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Expense Ratio Comparison

HEAL.L has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than URTH's 0.24% expense ratio.

Dividends

HEAL.L vs. URTH - Dividend Comparison

HEAL.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while URTH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.42%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
HEAL.L iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF	1.42%	1.48%	1.47%	1.70%	1.68%	1.50%	1.52%	2.16%	2.30%	1.88%	2.15%	2.35%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both HEAL.L and URTH in my portfolio?

HEAL.L and URTH have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, HEAL.L or URTH?

On fees, URTH is cheaper at 0.24% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, HEAL.L or URTH?

URTH is cheaper with a 0.24% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for HEAL.L.

What is the main difference between HEAL.L and URTH?

HEAL.L is categorized as Health & Biotech Equities, while URTH is Global Equities. HEAL.L tracks MSCI World/Health Care NR USD, while URTH tracks MSCI World Index (Net). Their fees differ too: 0.40% for HEAL.L and 0.24% for URTH.