VHT vs. VGHAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX).
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. VGHAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VHT vs. VGHAX - Performance Comparison
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VHT vs. VGHAX - 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% |
VGHAX Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares | -5.89% | 19.72% | 9.10% | 5.51% | -1.00% | 12.82% | 12.62% | 22.99% | 1.07% | 19.64% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VHT achieves a -5.04% return, which is significantly higher than VGHAX's -5.89% return. Over the past 10 years, VHT has outperformed VGHAX with an annualized return of 9.72%, while VGHAX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.16% 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%
VGHAX
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- -8.80%
- YTD
- -5.89%
- 6M
- 7.16%
- 1Y
- 9.80%
- 3Y*
- 9.27%
- 5Y*
- 8.05%
- 10Y*
- 9.16%
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VHT vs. VGHAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VHT has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than VGHAX's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VHT vs. VGHAX — Risk / Return Rank
VHT
VGHAX
VHT vs. VGHAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX). 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 | VGHAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.27 | 0.53 | -0.26 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.49 | 0.84 | -0.35 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.06 | 1.11 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.51 | 1.15 | -0.64 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.09 | 2.82 | -1.73 |
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
| VHT | VGHAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.27 | 0.53 | -0.26 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.45 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | 0.52 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.56 | 0.60 | -0.04 |
Correlation
The correlation between VHT and VGHAX is 0.94, 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.
Dividends
VHT vs. VGHAX - Dividend Comparison
VHT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.73%, less than VGHAX's 7.09% 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% |
VGHAX Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares | 7.09% | 6.07% | 22.84% | 7.22% | 5.49% | 7.05% | 8.02% | 11.87% | 9.15% | 7.36% | 8.60% | 8.21% |
Drawdowns
VHT vs. VGHAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VHT drawdown since its inception was -39.12%, which is greater than VGHAX's maximum drawdown of -36.85%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VHT and VGHAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VHT | VGHAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -39.12% | -36.85% | -2.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.40% | -9.19% | -1.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.71% | -16.92% | -0.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.85% | -27.17% | -1.68% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.05% | -8.80% | +0.75% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.98% | -5.61% | -0.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.96% | 3.90% | +1.06% |
Volatility
VHT vs. VGHAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) has a higher volatility of 5.10% compared to Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) at 4.81%. This indicates that VHT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGHAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VHT | VGHAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.10% | 4.81% | +0.29% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.28% | 10.26% | +0.02% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.61% | 17.43% | +0.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.85% | 17.96% | -3.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.94% | 17.56% | -0.62% |