XLVvsVHTETF Comparison
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State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) belong to the same industry segment: US Health Care. XLV's top 2 sector exposures are Healthcare and Consumer Non-Cyclicals. In contrast, VHT's top sector exposures are Healthcare, Consumer Non-Cyclicals and Business Services. XLV is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.08%, versus 0.09% for VHT. XLV is up 11.62% year-to-date (YTD) with +$162M in YTD flows. VHT performs better with 12.26% YTD performance, and +$106M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of XLV and VHT below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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XLV vs VHT performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/29/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XLV VHT | +0.49%+0.28% | +6.53%+6.03% | +11.62%+12.26% | +27.68%+27.93% | +39.35%+42.47% | +43.61%+37.74% |
| Flows | XLV VHT | -$187M+$34M | +$189M+$345M | +$162M+$106M | +$2.07B+$474M | -$4.77B-$2.13B | +$2.24B-$967M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | XLV VHT | +17.78%+16.74% | +16.09%+15.57% | +14.75%+14.68% | +15.16%+15.54% |
| Max drawdown | XLV VHT | -5.81%-5.63% | -10.51%-10.39% | -17.05%-16.88% | -17.05%-17.77% |
| Max drawdown duration | XLV VHT | 41d41d | 116d169d | 444d435d | 444d767d |
Trading data
XLV | VHT | |
Last sale 9/29/2026 at 1:30 PM | $170.73 | $319.79 |
| Previous close 09/29/2026 | $171.26 | $320.74 |
| Consolidated volume 09/29/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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XLV | VHT | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/29/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
XLV | VHT | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $170.73 | $319.79 |
| 1D performance | -0.31% | -0.30% |
| AuM | $43.86 B | $19.34 B |
| E/R | 0.08% | 0.09% |
Characteristics
XLV | VHT | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard |
| Benchmark | S&P Health Care Select Sector Index | MSCI US IMI Health Care 25/50 Index |
| N° of holdings | 59 | 412 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | December 16, 1998 | January 26, 2004 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
XLV
USA
97.52%
Other
2.48%
VHT
USA
96.81%
Other
3.19%
Sectors
XLV
Healthcare
97.84%
Other
2.16%
VHT
Healthcare
97.74%
Other
2.26%
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Diversification
XLV
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
71.32%
VHT
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
60.65%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of August 31, 2026
XLV
Eli Lilly & Co.
14.88%
Johnson & Johnson
10.41%
AbbVie, Inc.
7.37%
Merck & Co., Inc.
5.93%
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
5.75%
Amgen, Inc.
3.77%
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
3.73%
Abbott Laboratories
3.13%
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
2.95%
Pfizer Inc.
2.64%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
2.25%
Bristol Myers Squibb Co.
2.22%
Danaher Corp.
2.19%
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
2.17%
CVS Health Corp.
1.95%
VHT
Eli Lilly & Co.
12.79%
Johnson & Johnson
8.72%
AbbVie, Inc.
6.26%
Merck & Co., Inc.
5.04%
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
4.89%
Amgen, Inc.
3.21%
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
3.17%
Abbott Laboratories
2.66%
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
2.51%
Pfizer Inc.
2.24%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
1.91%
Bristol Myers Squibb Co.
1.88%
Danaher Corp.
1.88%
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
1.84%
CVS Health Corp.
1.66%
Frequently asked questions about XLV and VHT
How have the XLV and VHT ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 29, 2026, XLV is up 11.62% year-to-date (YTD), while VHT has returned 12.26%. That puts VHT better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XLV or VHT?
Year-to-date, the XLV ETF saw +$162M in flows, compared to +$106M for VHT.
Which ETF is more volatile: XLV or VHT?
Over the past year, XLV had a volatility of 16.09%, while VHT experienced 15.57%.
Which ETF is bigger: XLV or VHT?
As of September 29, 2026, XLV holds $43.86 B in assets under management (AUM), while VHT manages $19.34 B.
What sectors do the XLV and VHT ETFs invest in?
XLV leans toward sectors like Healthcare. Meanwhile, VHT focuses on Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the XLV ETF and VHT ETF?
XLV top holdings include Eli Lilly & Co., Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie, Inc.. VHT holds in its top three: Eli Lilly & Co., Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: XLV or VHT?
XLV holds 59 securities with 71.32% of its assets in the top 15. VHT has 412 securities and a top 15 weight of 60.65%.
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