VHT vs. BTEC

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF (BTEC).

VHT and BTEC are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VHT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. BTEC is a passively managed fund by Principal that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ U.S. Health Care Innovators Index. It was launched on Aug 19, 2016. Both VHT and BTEC 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

VHT vs. BTEC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF (BTEC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VHT vs. BTEC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF	-6.13%
BTEC Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF	0.00%

Returns By Period

VHT

• 1D: 2.24%
• 1M: -7.50%
• YTD: -5.04%
• 6M: 5.91%
• 1Y: 4.70%
• 3Y*: 6.16%
• 5Y*: 5.09%
• 10Y*: 9.72%

BTEC

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.00%
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VHT vs. BTEC - Expense Ratio Comparison

VHT has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than BTEC's 0.42% expense ratio.

BTEC

Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF

VHT

Vanguard Health Care ETF

Return for Risk

VHT vs. BTEC — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VHT

VHT Risk / Return Rank: 21
VHT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 20
VHT Sortino Ratio Rank: 20
VHT Omega Ratio Rank: 19
VHT Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
VHT Martin Ratio Rank: 21

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VHT vs. BTEC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF (BTEC). 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.

	VHT	BTEC	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.27	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.49	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.06	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.51	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.09	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VHT	BTEC	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.27	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.34	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.58	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.56	—	—

Dividends

VHT vs. BTEC - Dividend Comparison

VHT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.73%, while BTEC has not paid dividends to shareholders.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF	1.73%	1.61%	1.53%	1.36%	1.33%	1.14%	1.21%	1.89%	1.38%	1.31%	1.45%	1.22%
BTEC Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

VHT vs. BTEC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VHT drawdown since its inception was -39.12%, which is greater than BTEC's maximum drawdown of 0.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VHT and BTEC.

Drawdown Indicators

	VHT	BTEC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-39.12%	0.00%	-39.12%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.40%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-17.71%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-28.85%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.05%	0.00%	-8.05%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.98%	0.00%	-5.98%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.96%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	VHT	BTEC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.10%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.28%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.61%	0.00%	+17.61%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.85%	0.00%	+14.85%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.94%	0.00%	+16.94%