VHT vs. IXJ
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ).
VHT and IXJ 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. 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 VHT 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.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: VHT or IXJ.
Key characteristics
| VHT | IXJ | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 2.88% | 3.07% |
| 1Y Return | 6.06% | 4.67% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 3.75% | 4.89% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 10.26% | 9.74% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 10.88% | 8.68% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.57 | 0.47 |
| Daily Std Dev | 10.82% | 10.33% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.12% | -40.60% |
| Current Drawdown | -4.95% | -4.10% |
Correlation
The correlation between VHT and IXJ is 0.91, 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.
Performance
VHT vs. IXJ - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, VHT achieves a 2.88% return, which is significantly lower than IXJ's 3.07% return. Over the past 10 years, VHT has outperformed IXJ with an annualized return of 10.88%, while IXJ has yielded a comparatively lower 8.68% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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VHT vs. IXJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
VHT has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than IXJ's 0.46% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VHT vs. IXJ - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) 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.
Dividends
VHT vs. IXJ - Dividend Comparison
VHT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.35%, which matches IXJ's 1.34% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF | 1.35% | 1.36% | 1.33% | 1.14% | 1.21% | 1.89% | 1.38% | 1.31% | 1.45% | 1.22% | 1.02% | 1.12% |
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF | 1.34% | 1.38% | 1.17% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.42% | 2.11% | 1.46% | 1.73% | 2.84% | 1.37% | 1.50% |
Drawdowns
VHT vs. IXJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VHT drawdown since its inception was -39.12%, roughly equal to the maximum IXJ drawdown of -40.60%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VHT and IXJ. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VHT vs. IXJ - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) has a higher volatility of 3.21% compared to iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) at 2.96%. This indicates that VHT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IXJ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.