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IBRN vs. FTXH
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IBRN vs. FTXH

Last updated Aug 2, 2026
Documentation

IBRN (iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF) and FTXH (First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF) are both Health & Biotech Equities funds - IBRN tracks the NYSE FactSet Global Neuro Biopharma and MedTech Index while FTXH tracks the Nasdaq U.S. Smart Pharmaceuticals Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, IBRN returned 14.57%/yr vs 15.55%/yr for FTXH. Their 0.65 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. IBRN charges 0.47%/yr vs 0.60%/yr for FTXH.

Performance

IBRN vs. FTXH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) and First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IBRN achieves a 13.26% return, which is significantly lower than FTXH's 18.55% return.

IBRN

1D
-3.24%
1M
-6.28%
6M
12.31%
YTD
13.26%
1Y
59.23%
3Y*
14.57%
5Y*
—
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
10.28%

FTXH

1D
-1.05%
1M
-0.66%
6M
15.17%
YTD
18.55%
1Y
50.60%
3Y*
15.55%
5Y*
9.58%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
8.11%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

FTXH

First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF
$132.14M$63.96M$21.87M

IBRN

iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF
$83.61K$123.63K$97.37K

IBRN vs. FTXH - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022
IBRN
iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF		13.26%28.49%-2.78%0.92%2.87%
FTXH
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF		18.55%24.15%2.98%-1.41%6.68%

Correlation

The correlation between IBRN and FTXH is 0.61, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.61

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.64

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 26, 2022

0.65

The correlation between IBRN and FTXH has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.61 to 0.65 - a consistent structural relationship.

IBRN vs. FTXH - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IBRN
FTXH

Healthcare

100.0%
100.0%

Basic Materials

-

-

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Financial Services

-

-

Industrials

-

-

Real Estate

-

-

Technology

-

-

Utilities

-

-

Healthcare

IBRN
100.0%
FTXH
100.0%

Basic Materials

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Communication Services

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Consumer Cyclical

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Consumer Defensive

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Energy

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Financial Services

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Industrials

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Real Estate

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Technology

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Utilities

IBRN

-

FTXH

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF

First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF

Often compared with IBRN:
IBRN vs. MEDIIBRN vs. IDNAIBRN vs. VOOIBRN vs. ACWIIBRN vs. IHIIBRN vs. SPYIBRN vs. SBIO
Often compared with FTXH:
FTXH vs. PPHFTXH vs. BBPFTXH vs. XLVFTXH vs. MEDIFTXH vs. FXAIXFTXH vs. SPUSFTXH vs. IAGG

Return for Risk

IBRN vs. FTXH — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
IBRN
IBRN Risk / Return Rank: 9191
Overall Rank
IBRN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9191
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IBRN Sortino Ratio Rank: 8989
Sortino Ratio Rank
IBRN Omega Ratio Rank: 8484
Omega Ratio Rank
IBRN Calmar Ratio Rank: 9696
Calmar Ratio Rank
IBRN Martin Ratio Rank: 9393
Martin Ratio Rank
FTXH
FTXH Risk / Return Rank: 9696
Overall Rank
FTXH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9797
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FTXH Sortino Ratio Rank: 9696
Sortino Ratio Rank
FTXH Omega Ratio Rank: 9494
Omega Ratio Rank
FTXH Calmar Ratio Rank: 9797
Calmar Ratio Rank
FTXH Martin Ratio Rank: 9595
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

IBRN vs. FTXH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) and First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH). 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.

IBRNFTXHDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.29
3.12

-0.83

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.10
4.55

-1.46

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.36

1.52

-0.16

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

6.42

7.13

-0.71

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

16.74

21.24

-4.50

IBRN vs. FTXH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IBRN Sharpe Ratio is 2.29, which is comparable to the FTXH Sharpe Ratio of 3.12. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IBRN and FTXH, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

IBRN vs. FTXH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IBRN drawdown since its inception was -35.38%, which is greater than FTXH's maximum drawdown of -32.11%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBRN and FTXH.

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Drawdown Indicators

IBRNFTXHDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-35.38%

-32.11%

-3.27%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.15%

-7.47%

-1.68%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-35.38%

-19.51%

-15.87%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

—

-19.51%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-9.15%

-2.01%

-7.14%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-9.59%

-5.76%

-3.83%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.50%

2.50%

+1.00%

Volatility

IBRN vs. FTXH - Volatility Comparison

iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) has a higher volatility of 7.68% compared to First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH) at 5.56%. This indicates that IBRN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FTXH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IBRNFTXHDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

7.68%

5.56%

+2.12%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

19.64%

12.78%

+6.86%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

25.61%

17.21%

+8.40%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

25.34%

16.53%

+8.81%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

25.34%

18.43%

+6.91%

IBRN vs. FTXH - Expense Ratio Comparison

IBRN has a 0.47% expense ratio, which is lower than FTXH's 0.60% expense ratio.

Dividends

IBRN vs. FTXH - Dividend Comparison

IBRN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.87%, less than FTXH's 1.09% yield.

PositionTTM2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
FTXH
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF		1.09%1.41%1.66%1.55%1.11%1.03%0.82%0.67%0.91%2.18%0.19%
IBRN
iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF		0.87%0.99%0.40%0.06%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

IBRN and FTXH have a correlation of 0.61, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

IBRN has higher volatility (7.68%) compared to FTXH (5.56%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBRN dropped -35.38% vs FTXH's -32.11%.

On 3-year performance, FTXH leads with 15.55% vs 14.57% for IBRN. On fees, IBRN is cheaper at 0.47% per year. On volatility, FTXH has been the lower-risk option at 5.56%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 3-year period, FTXH has performed better with a 15.55% return vs 14.57%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

IBRN is cheaper with a 0.47% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for FTXH.

FTXH has the higher dividend yield at 1.09%, compared with 0.87% for IBRN.

IBRN tracks NYSE FactSet Global Neuro Biopharma and MedTech Index, while FTXH tracks Nasdaq U.S. Smart Pharmaceuticals Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.47% for IBRN and 0.60% for FTXH.

FTXH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.12 vs 2.29), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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