VGHCX vs. PRHSX
VGHCX (Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares) and PRHSX (T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund) are both Health & Biotech Equities funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 10 years, VGHCX returned 9.32%/yr vs 11.23%/yr for PRHSX. Their correlation of 0.87 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VGHCX charges 0.33%/yr vs 0.83%/yr for PRHSX.
Performance
VGHCX vs. PRHSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGHCX achieves a 4.43% return, which is significantly lower than PRHSX's 8.63% return. Over the past 10 years, VGHCX has underperformed PRHSX with an annualized return of 9.32%, while PRHSX has yielded a comparatively higher 11.23% annualized return.
VGHCX
- 1D
- -1.27%
- 1M
- -2.84%
- 6M
- 4.38%
- YTD
- 4.43%
- 1Y
- 28.58%
- 3Y*
- 11.51%
- 5Y*
- 7.89%
- 10Y*
- 9.32%
- ALL TIME*
- 14.60%
PRHSX
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- -1.27%
- 6M
- 9.71%
- YTD
- 8.63%
- 1Y
- 33.31%
- 3Y*
- 9.96%
- 5Y*
- 3.65%
- 10Y*
- 11.23%
- ALL TIME*
- 13.18%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VGHCX vs. PRHSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGHCX Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares | 4.43% | 19.63% | 8.99% | 5.46% | -1.05% | 14.36% | 12.57% | 22.93% | 1.03% | 19.59% |
PRHSX T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund | 8.63% | 17.75% | 1.82% | 3.03% | -12.22% | 13.50% | 30.19% | 37.88% | 1.08% | 28.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGHCX and PRHSX is 0.94, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.91 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.92 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.91 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 1996 | 0.87 |
The correlation between VGHCX and PRHSX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VGHCX vs. PRHSX — Risk / Return Rank
VGHCX
PRHSX
VGHCX vs. PRHSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) and T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund (PRHSX). 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.
| VGHCX | PRHSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.20 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.19 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.33 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.95 | 2.50 | +0.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.76 | 6.96 | +0.80 |
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Drawdowns
VGHCX vs. PRHSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGHCX drawdown since its inception was -36.93%, smaller than the maximum PRHSX drawdown of -42.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGHCX and PRHSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGHCX | PRHSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.93% | -42.96% | +6.03% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.20% | -12.81% | +3.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.08% | -21.00% | +4.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.95% | -27.61% | +10.66% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -27.18% | -28.97% | +1.79% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.46% | -2.23% | -1.23% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.24% | -8.71% | +3.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.49% | 4.59% | -1.10% |
Volatility
VGHCX vs. PRHSX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) has a higher volatility of 5.44% compared to T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund (PRHSX) at 5.14%. This indicates that VGHCX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PRHSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGHCX | PRHSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.44% | 5.14% | +0.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.65% | 12.96% | -1.31% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.39% | 16.35% | -0.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.40% | 17.46% | +0.94% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.67% | 19.27% | -1.60% |
VGHCX vs. PRHSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGHCX has a 0.33% expense ratio, which is lower than PRHSX's 0.83% expense ratio.
Dividends
VGHCX vs. PRHSX - Dividend Comparison
VGHCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.33%, less than PRHSX's 11.13% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PRHSX T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund | 11.13% | 12.09% | 12.89% | 5.21% | 1.77% | 7.46% | 7.16% | 12.29% | 6.57% | 7.43% | 4.55% | 11.34% |
VGHCX Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares | 6.33% | 6.00% | 22.72% | 7.17% | 5.44% | 8.31% | 7.96% | 11.82% | 9.10% | 7.30% | 8.54% | 8.16% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, VGHCX and PRHSX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VGHCX has higher volatility (5.44%) compared to PRHSX (5.14%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGHCX dropped -36.93% vs PRHSX's -42.96%.
PRHSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.96 vs 1.76), 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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