VHT vs. XLV
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV).
VHT and XLV 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. XLV is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Health Care Select Sector. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both VHT and XLV 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 XLV.
Performance
VHT vs. XLV - Performance Comparison
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VHT having a 7.19% return and XLV slightly lower at 6.90%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VHT having a 9.37% annualized return and XLV not far ahead at 9.46%.
VHT
7.19%
-3.59%
1.67%
13.80%
9.19%
9.37%
XLV
6.90%
-4.15%
0.58%
12.28%
9.85%
9.46%
Key characteristics
| VHT | XLV | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.23 | 1.13 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.74 | 1.61 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.22 | 1.21 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.41 | 1.25 |
| Martin Ratio | 4.97 | 4.34 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.78% | 2.83% |
| Daily Std Dev | 11.23% | 10.83% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.12% | -39.18% |
| Current Drawdown | -7.35% | -7.98% |
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VHT vs. XLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
VHT has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than XLV's 0.12% 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%.
Correlation
The correlation between VHT and XLV is 0.97, 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.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VHT vs. XLV - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV). 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. XLV - Dividend Comparison
VHT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.45%, less than XLV's 1.58% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VHT Vanguard Health Care ETF | 1.45% | 1.36% | 1.33% | 1.14% | 1.21% | 1.89% | 1.38% | 1.31% | 1.45% | 1.22% | 1.02% | 1.12% |
XLV Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.58% | 1.59% | 1.47% | 1.33% | 1.49% | 2.17% | 1.58% | 1.47% | 1.60% | 1.43% | 1.35% | 1.52% |
Drawdowns
VHT vs. XLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VHT drawdown since its inception was -39.12%, roughly equal to the maximum XLV drawdown of -39.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VHT and XLV. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VHT vs. XLV - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) has a higher volatility of 4.10% compared to Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) at 3.78%. This indicates that VHT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.