VDHG.AX vs. IXJ
VDHG.AX (Vanguard Diversified High Growth INDEX ETF) and IXJ (iShares Global Healthcare ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VDHG.AX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by Vanguard, while IXJ is a Health & Biotech Equities fund tracking the S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index. VDHG.AX is actively managed, while IXJ is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VDHG.AX returned 8.48%/yr vs 6.45%/yr for IXJ. At a 0.05 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VDHG.AX charges 0.27%/yr vs 0.46%/yr for IXJ.
Performance
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
VDHG.AX is traded in AUD, while IXJ is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the IXJ values have been converted to AUD using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VDHG.AX achieves a 3.21% return, which is significantly higher than IXJ's -8.36% return.
VDHG.AX
- 1D
- -1.03%
- 1M
- 2.79%
- YTD
- 3.21%
- 6M
- 4.40%
- 1Y
- 12.72%
- 3Y*
- 13.70%
- 5Y*
- 8.48%
- 10Y*
- —
IXJ
- 1D
- 3.34%
- 1M
- 4.05%
- YTD
- -8.36%
- 6M
- -8.17%
- 1Y
- 2.30%
- 3Y*
- 2.90%
- 5Y*
- 6.45%
- 10Y*
- 8.31%
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VDHG.AX Vanguard Diversified High Growth INDEX ETF | 3.21% | 12.88% | 17.84% | 15.49% | -9.55% | 13.42% | 7.74% | 23.67% | -2.22% | 1.42% |
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF | -8.36% | 6.64% | 10.67% | 3.70% | 1.34% | 26.61% | 2.84% | 23.80% | 13.86% | -1.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between VDHG.AX and IXJ is -0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.06 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.00 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 21, 2017 | 0.05 |
The correlation between VDHG.AX and IXJ shifts across timeframes, from -0.06 (1 year) to 0.05 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ — Risk / Return Rank
VDHG.AX
IXJ
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Diversified High Growth INDEX ETF (VDHG.AX) 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.
| VDHG.AX | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.04 | +0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.72 | 0.13 | +1.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.53 | 0.30 | +6.22 |
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
| VDHG.AX | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.32 | 0.16 | +1.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.78 | 0.48 | +0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.55 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.79 | 0.60 | +0.19 |
Drawdowns
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VDHG.AX drawdown since its inception was -28.34%, which is greater than IXJ's maximum drawdown of -24.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VDHG.AX and IXJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VDHG.AX | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -28.34% | -24.87% | -3.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.32% | -17.41% | +10.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.49% | -17.41% | +4.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.16% | -17.41% | +0.25% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -17.41% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.03% | -12.23% | +11.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.66% | -7.34% | +3.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.94% | 7.58% | -5.64% |
Volatility
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Diversified High Growth INDEX ETF (VDHG.AX) is 2.90%, while iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) has a volatility of 5.35%. This indicates that VDHG.AX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IXJ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VDHG.AX | IXJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.90% | 5.35% | -2.45% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.76% | 10.47% | -2.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.58% | 14.39% | -4.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.82% | 13.65% | -2.83% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.84% | 15.04% | -3.20% |
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
VDHG.AX has a 0.27% expense ratio, which is lower than IXJ's 0.46% expense ratio.
Dividends
VDHG.AX vs. IXJ - Dividend Comparison
VDHG.AX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.27%, more than IXJ's 1.43% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF | 1.43% | 1.40% | 1.50% | 1.38% | 1.17% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.42% | 2.11% | 1.46% | 1.73% | 2.85% |
VDHG.AX Vanguard Diversified High Growth INDEX ETF | 3.27% | 3.94% | 3.15% | 2.68% | 4.94% | 5.52% | 5.09% | 3.87% | 2.48% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VDHG.AX and IXJ have a correlation of -0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, VDHG.AX is cheaper at 0.27% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
VDHG.AX is cheaper with a 0.27% expense ratio, compared with 0.46% for IXJ.
VDHG.AX is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while IXJ is Health & Biotech Equities. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.27% for VDHG.AX and 0.46% for IXJ.
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