PPH vs. IXJ
Compare and contrast key facts about VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) and iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ).
PPH and IXJ are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. IXJ is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index. It was launched on Nov 13, 2001. Both PPH and IXJ 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
PPH vs. IXJ - Performance Comparison
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PPH vs. IXJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF | -2.96% | 14.99% | 0.55% | 3.62% | -4.94% | 19.60% | 12.74% | 23.23% | 2.83% | 20.44% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PPH achieves a 2.25% return, which is significantly higher than IXJ's -2.96% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with PPH having a 8.21% annualized return and IXJ not far ahead at 8.51%.
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%
IXJ
- 1D
- 1.05%
- 1M
- -5.74%
- YTD
- -2.96%
- 6M
- 3.71%
- 1Y
- 6.94%
- 3Y*
- 5.79%
- 5Y*
- 5.55%
- 10Y*
- 8.51%
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PPH vs. IXJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
PPH has a 0.36% expense ratio, which is lower than IXJ's 0.46% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PPH vs. IXJ — Risk / Return Rank
PPH
IXJ
PPH vs. IXJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) and iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ). 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.
| PPH | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.06 | 0.40 | +0.65 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.55 | 0.68 | +0.87 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.09 | +0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.81 | 0.50 | +1.30 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.66 | 1.37 | +3.29 |
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
| PPH | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.06 | 0.40 | +0.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.74 | 0.40 | +0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.49 | 0.55 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 0.43 | -0.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between PPH and IXJ is 0.85, 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
PPH vs. IXJ - Dividend Comparison
PPH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.06%, more than IXJ's 1.44% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF | 1.44% | 1.40% | 1.50% | 1.38% | 1.17% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.42% | 2.11% | 1.46% | 1.73% | 2.85% |
Drawdowns
PPH vs. IXJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PPH drawdown since its inception was -51.45%, which is greater than IXJ's maximum drawdown of -40.60%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PPH and IXJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PPH | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.45% | -40.60% | -10.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.02% | -10.35% | +0.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.26% | -18.14% | -2.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.70% | -27.35% | -2.35% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.56% | -7.07% | +1.51% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.38% | -6.92% | -10.46% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.88% | 3.78% | +0.10% |
Volatility
PPH vs. IXJ - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) and iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) have volatilities of 5.24% and 5.11%, 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.
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Volatility by Period
| PPH | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.24% | 5.11% | +0.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.00% | 10.23% | +1.77% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.72% | 17.33% | +2.39% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.87% | 14.08% | +0.79% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.95% | 15.66% | +1.29% |