Overview
Comprehensive US healthcare sector ETF tracking 400+ companies. Covers pharma, biotech, medical devices, managed care, and healthcare services. Vanguard's lowest-cost broad healthcare sector fund.
Top Holdings
| Ticker | Holding | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| UNH | UnitedHealth Group | 12.8% |
| LLY | Eli Lilly | 10.4% |
| ABT | Abbott Labs | 5.8% |
| MRK | Merck & Co. | 5.4% |
| TMO | Thermo Fisher | 5.2% |
| ABBV | AbbVie Inc. | 4.8% |
| DHR | Danaher Corp. | 4.4% |
| ISRG | Intuitive Surgical | 3.8% |
| SYK | Stryker Corp. | 3.4% |
| BMY | Bristol-Myers | 3.2% |
Fund Details
Investment Thesis
VHT provides broader healthcare sector exposure than XLV by including mid-cap healthcare companies through the MSCI IMI methodology. This captures innovative medical device companies, specialty pharma firms, and healthcare IT businesses that the S&P 500 sector fund misses. The 0.10% expense ratio is significantly cheaper than most actively managed healthcare funds while delivering diversification across all healthcare subsectors. Aging demographics create a structural demand growth tailwind that makes healthcare a compelling long-term sector allocation.
Who It's For
Long-term investors seeking defensive sector exposure with secular demographic growth tailwinds. VHT suits those who want lower portfolio volatility than pure growth funds without sacrificing upside potential from healthcare innovation. The fund is appropriate for investors building a factor-diversified equity portfolio who want meaningful healthcare representation including innovative mid-cap companies beyond just the S&P 500 healthcare giants.
10-Year History
| Year | Close | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $124.42 | -- |
| 2017 | $148.18 | +19.1% |
| 2018 | $162.42 | +9.6% |
| 2019 | $192.42 | +18.5% |
| 2020 | $218.42 | +13.5% |
| 2021 | $252.42 | +15.6% |
| 2022 | $238.18 | -5.6% |
| 2023 | $248.42 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $280.42 | +12.9% |
| 2025 | $323.80 | +15.5% |
| Year | Yield |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1.72% |
| 2017 | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 1.62% |
| 2019 | 1.48% |
| 2020 | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 1.28% |
| 2022 | 1.52% |
| 2023 | 1.38% |
| 2024 | 1.32% |
| 2025 | 1.38% |
| Year | AUM | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $8B | -- |
| 2017 | $10B | +25.0% |
| 2018 | $10B | 0.0% |
| 2019 | $12B | +20.0% |
| 2020 | $14B | +16.7% |
| 2021 | $16B | +14.3% |
| 2022 | $14B | -12.5% |
| 2023 | $14B | 0.0% |
| 2024 | $14B | 0.0% |
| 2025 | $16B | +14.3% |
Historical figures are ETFHub estimates modelled from asset-class return patterns and may differ from official fund records. Data as of August 2026.
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