BSV vs XLV
Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF vs State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, BSV or XLV?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
BSV has a lower expense ratio. XLV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BSV | XLV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.08% |
| AUM | $45.6B | $44.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.01% | 1.49% |
| Holdings | 3,205 | 63 |
| YTD Return | +0.02% | +10.18%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.19% | +25.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.34% | +10.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.51% | +6.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.4%Best | 14.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.0%Best | -40.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,778 | $13,954Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 3, 2007 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 10, 2007 to Sep 22, 2026 (19.5 years).
BSV vs XLV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BSV vs XLV Performance
Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year BSV returned +1.19% while XLV returned +25.94%. Year to date, BSV is up 0.02% versus a gain of 10.18% for XLV.
Over three years, BSV compounded at +4.34% per year against +10.81% for XLV; over five years the annualized figures are +1.51% and +6.89% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, XLV has the edge at +9.01% annualized vs +0.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XLV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 2.4% for BSV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -9.0% for BSV and -40.6% for XLV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.19. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSV charges 0.03% per year while XLV charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $8 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BSV currently yields 4.01% against 1.49% for XLV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of XLV's money is in holdings BSV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BSV, our book for it covers 63.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,013 positions we hold weights for in BSV and 61 in XLV, against full books of 3,205 and 63.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BSV | Weight in XLV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMFSsi Us Gov Money Market Class | 0.00% | 0.11% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BSV and XLV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BSV or XLV?
BSV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XLV charges 0.08%. BSV is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BSV or XLV?
Over the past year BSV returned +1.19% vs +25.94% for XLV, so XLV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), BSV annualized +0.89% vs +9.01% for XLV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSV or XLV?
XLV has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 2.4% for BSV. Worst drawdown: BSV -9.0% vs XLV -40.6%.
Should I hold both BSV and XLV?
BSV and XLV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.19, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BSV or XLV?
BSV yields 4.01% while XLV yields 1.49%, so BSV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLV better than BSV?
BSV has a lower expense ratio. XLV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.