VHT vs XLV
Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares vs State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-10
Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (VHT) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to us sector - healthcare securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.71%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR that provides exposure to us sector - healthcare securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.70%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
Both funds have nearly identical expense ratios (0.08% vs 0.09%), so fees are not a differentiator here. VHT has edged ahead over the past year (12.5% vs 9.6%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
10 of top 10 holdings overlap (100% overlap in top holdings)
VHT Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and CompanyLLY | 12.54% |
| Johnson & JohnsonJNJ | 8.76% |
| AbbVie Inc.ABBV | 6.09% |
| Merck & Co., Inc.MRK | 4.56% |
| UnitedHealth Group IncorporatedUNH | 3.94% |
| Amgen Inc.AMGN | 3.10% |
| Abbott LaboratoriesABT | 3.00% |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.TMO | 2.91% |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc.GILD | 2.74% |
| Intuitive Surgical, Inc.ISRG | 2.65% |
XLV Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and CompanyLLY | 14.06% |
| Johnson & JohnsonJNJ | 10.80% |
| AbbVie Inc.ABBV | 6.97% |
| Merck & Co., Inc.MRK | 5.66% |
| UnitedHealth Group IncorporatedUNH | 5.16% |
| Amgen Inc.AMGN | 3.56% |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.TMO | 3.49% |
| Abbott LaboratoriesABT | 3.32% |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc.GILD | 3.27% |
| Intuitive Surgical, Inc.ISRG | 3.00% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VHT if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Either works if...
you just need broad us sector - healthcare exposure. Both are solid options — pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free.