IBB vs. PPH
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) and VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH).
IBB and PPH are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IBB is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. It was launched on Feb 5, 2001. PPH is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index. It was launched on Dec 20, 2011. Both IBB and PPH 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
IBB vs. PPH - Performance Comparison
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IBB vs. PPH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBB iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF | 0.88% | 27.98% | -2.41% | 3.76% | -13.69% | 0.95% | 26.01% | 25.42% | -9.53% | 21.08% |
PPH VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF | 2.25% | 22.00% | 8.05% | 6.95% | 2.64% | 17.79% | 5.49% | 19.39% | -5.89% | 15.23% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBB achieves a 0.88% return, which is significantly lower than PPH's 2.25% return. Over the past 10 years, IBB has underperformed PPH with an annualized return of 6.92%, while PPH has yielded a comparatively higher 8.21% annualized return.
IBB
- 1D
- 0.76%
- 1M
- -2.11%
- YTD
- 0.88%
- 6M
- 14.77%
- 1Y
- 37.04%
- 3Y*
- 9.92%
- 5Y*
- 2.62%
- 10Y*
- 6.92%
PPH
- 1D
- 1.55%
- 1M
- -4.34%
- YTD
- 2.25%
- 6M
- 12.24%
- 1Y
- 20.59%
- 3Y*
- 13.02%
- 5Y*
- 10.93%
- 10Y*
- 8.21%
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IBB vs. PPH - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBB has a 0.47% expense ratio, which is higher than PPH's 0.36% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
IBB vs. PPH — Risk / Return Rank
IBB
PPH
IBB vs. PPH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) and VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH). 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.
| IBB | PPH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.56 | 1.06 | +0.51 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.16 | 1.55 | +0.61 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.20 | +0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.86 | 1.81 | +1.06 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.20 | 4.66 | +5.53 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IBB | PPH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.56 | 1.06 | +0.51 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.12 | 0.74 | -0.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.30 | 0.49 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.26 | 0.31 | -0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between IBB and PPH is 0.66, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
IBB vs. PPH - Dividend Comparison
IBB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.23%, less than PPH's 2.06% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBB iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF | 0.23% | 0.23% | 0.29% | 0.26% | 0.31% | 0.21% | 0.21% | 0.33% | 0.20% | 0.30% | 0.19% | 0.03% |
PPH VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF | 2.06% | 1.78% | 1.98% | 2.09% | 1.55% | 1.62% | 1.66% | 1.77% | 1.97% | 1.92% | 2.43% | 1.93% |
Drawdowns
IBB vs. PPH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBB drawdown since its inception was -62.85%, which is greater than PPH's maximum drawdown of -51.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBB and PPH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBB | PPH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.85% | -51.45% | -11.40% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.65% | -10.02% | -1.63% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.82% | -20.26% | -19.56% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.82% | -29.70% | -10.12% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.16% | -5.56% | +1.40% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.30% | -17.38% | -3.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.27% | 3.88% | -0.61% |
Volatility
IBB vs. PPH - Volatility Comparison
iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) has a higher volatility of 8.38% compared to VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) at 5.24%. This indicates that IBB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PPH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBB | PPH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.38% | 5.24% | +3.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.50% | 12.00% | +2.50% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.01% | 19.72% | +4.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.87% | 14.87% | +7.00% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.37% | 16.95% | +6.42% |