VHT vs. MRK

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK).

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.

Performance

VHT vs. MRK - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VHT vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF	-5.04%	15.46%	2.66%	2.52%	-5.60%	20.57%	18.29%	21.87%	5.58%	23.26%
MRK Merck & Co., Inc.	15.13%	9.79%	-6.26%	1.01%	49.42%	1.75%	-7.20%	22.27%	39.95%	-1.49%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VHT achieves a -5.04% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 15.13% return. Over the past 10 years, VHT has underperformed MRK with an annualized return of 9.72%, while MRK has yielded a comparatively higher 12.31% annualized return.

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%

MRK

• 1D: 1.85%
• 1M: -2.13%
• YTD: 15.13%
• 6M: 45.62%
• 1Y: 38.88%
• 3Y*: 7.42%
• 5Y*: 13.86%
• 10Y*: 12.31%

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

Return for Risk

VHT vs. MRK — 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

MRK

MRK Risk / Return Rank: 79
MRK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
MRK Sortino Ratio Rank: 78
MRK Omega Ratio Rank: 76
MRK Calmar Ratio Rank: 80
MRK Martin Ratio Rank: 79

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. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK). 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	MRK	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.27	1.34	-1.08
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.49	1.96	-1.47
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.06	1.25	-0.19
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.51	2.19	-1.68
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.09	5.34	-4.24
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VHT vs. MRK - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VHT Sharpe Ratio is 0.27, which is lower than the MRK Sharpe Ratio of 1.34. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VHT and MRK, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VHT	MRK	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.27	1.34	-1.08
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.34	0.60	-0.25
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.58	0.54	+0.03
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.56	0.49	+0.07

Correlation

The correlation between VHT and MRK is 0.63, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

VHT vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison

VHT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.73%, less than MRK's 2.76% yield.

	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%
MRK Merck & Co., Inc.	2.76%	3.12%	3.14%	2.72%	2.52%	3.41%	3.03%	2.48%	2.60%	3.36%	3.14%	3.43%

Drawdowns

VHT vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VHT drawdown since its inception was -39.12%, smaller than the maximum MRK drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VHT and MRK.

Drawdown Indicators

	VHT	MRK	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-39.12%	-68.61%	+29.49%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.40%	-15.67%	+5.27%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-17.71%	-43.44%	+25.73%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-28.85%	-43.44%	+14.59%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.05%	-4.04%	-4.01%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.98%	-18.89%	+12.91%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.96%	7.44%	-2.48%

Volatility

VHT vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) is 5.10%, while Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a volatility of 5.85%. This indicates that VHT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MRK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VHT	MRK	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.10%	5.85%	-0.75%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.28%	19.79%	-9.51%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.61%	29.08%	-11.47%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.85%	23.30%	-8.45%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.94%	22.68%	-5.74%