PPH vs. VHT
PPH (VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF) and VHT (Vanguard Health Care ETF) are both Health & Biotech Equities funds - PPH tracks the MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index while VHT tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, PPH returned 8.33%/yr vs 10.00%/yr for VHT. Their correlation of 0.87 suggests significant overlap in exposure. PPH charges 0.36%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VHT.
Performance
PPH vs. VHT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PPH achieves a 1.11% return, which is significantly higher than VHT's -1.31% return. Over the past 10 years, PPH has underperformed VHT with an annualized return of 8.33%, while VHT has yielded a comparatively higher 10.00% annualized return.
PPH
- 1D
- 0.92%
- 1M
- -1.45%
- YTD
- 1.11%
- 6M
- 1.61%
- 1Y
- 21.33%
- 3Y*
- 11.87%
- 5Y*
- 9.48%
- 10Y*
- 8.33%
VHT
- 1D
- 0.93%
- 1M
- 1.34%
- YTD
- -1.31%
- 6M
- -1.97%
- 1Y
- 17.91%
- 3Y*
- 6.63%
- 5Y*
- 4.45%
- 10Y*
- 10.00%
PPH vs. VHT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPH VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF | 1.11% | 22.00% | 8.05% | 6.95% | 2.64% | 17.79% | 5.49% | 19.39% | -5.89% | 15.23% |
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF | -1.31% | 15.46% | 2.66% | 2.52% | -5.60% | 20.57% | 18.29% | 21.87% | 5.58% | 23.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between PPH and VHT is 0.88, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 2004 | 0.87 |
The correlation between PPH and VHT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.84 to 0.88 - a consistent structural relationship.
PPH vs. VHT - Sectors Allocation Comparison
Sectors
PPH
VHT
Healthcare
Industrials
Basic Materials
-
-
Communication Services
-
-
Consumer Cyclical
-
-
Consumer Defensive
-
-
Energy
-
-
Financial Services
-
Real Estate
-
-
Technology
-
Utilities
-
-
Healthcare
PPH
VHT
Industrials
PPH
VHT
Basic Materials
PPH
-
VHT
-
Communication Services
PPH
-
VHT
-
Consumer Cyclical
PPH
-
VHT
-
Consumer Defensive
PPH
-
VHT
-
Energy
PPH
-
VHT
-
Financial Services
PPH
-
VHT
Real Estate
PPH
-
VHT
-
Technology
PPH
-
VHT
Utilities
PPH
-
VHT
-
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Return for Risk
PPH vs. VHT — Risk / Return Rank
PPH
VHT
PPH vs. VHT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) 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.
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.
| PPH | VHT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.00 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.22 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.99 | 1.73 | +0.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.86 | 4.26 | +0.60 |
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Drawdowns
PPH vs. VHT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PPH drawdown since its inception was -51.45%, which is greater than VHT's maximum drawdown of -39.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PPH and VHT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PPH | VHT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.45% | -39.12% | -12.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.76% | -10.40% | -0.36% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.06% | -16.91% | -1.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.26% | -17.71% | -2.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.70% | -28.85% | -0.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.61% | -4.44% | -2.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.29% | -5.98% | -11.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.40% | 4.22% | +0.18% |
Volatility
PPH vs. VHT - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) has a higher volatility of 6.13% compared to Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) at 4.91%. This indicates that PPH's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VHT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PPH | VHT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.13% | 4.91% | +1.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.15% | 10.41% | +1.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.61% | 14.70% | +2.91% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.15% | 15.02% | +0.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.01% | 16.97% | +0.04% |
PPH vs. VHT - Expense Ratio Comparison
PPH has a 0.36% expense ratio, which is higher than VHT's 0.09% expense ratio.
Dividends
PPH vs. VHT - Dividend Comparison
PPH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.08%, more than VHT's 1.66% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPH VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF | 2.08% | 1.78% | 1.98% | 2.09% | 1.55% | 1.62% | 1.66% | 1.77% | 1.97% | 1.92% | 2.43% | 1.93% |
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF | 1.66% | 1.61% | 1.53% | 1.36% | 1.33% | 1.14% | 1.21% | 1.89% | 1.38% | 1.31% | 1.45% | 1.22% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PPH and VHT have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PPH has higher volatility (6.13%) compared to VHT (4.91%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PPH dropped -51.45% vs VHT's -39.12%.
On 10-year performance, VHT leads with 10.00% vs 8.33% for PPH. On fees, VHT is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, VHT has been the lower-risk option at 4.91%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VHT has performed better with a 10.00% return vs 8.33%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VHT is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.36% for PPH.
PPH has the higher dividend yield at 2.08%, compared with 1.66% for VHT.
PPH tracks MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index, while VHT tracks MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index. They also come from different issuers: VanEck and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.36% for PPH and 0.09% for VHT.
VHT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.23 vs 1.22), 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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