IHF vs VTI

IHF vs VTI

Which is better, IHF or VTI?

Each has led over a different period.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. IHF led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: split

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

MetricIHFVTI
Expense Ratio0.37%0.03%Best
AUM$1.2B$666.9B
Dividend Yield0.92%1.03%
Holdings643,543
YTD Return+17.66%Best+11.65%
1Y Return+19.13%Best+17.34%
3Y Return (annualized)+5.51%+20.35%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+2.36%+11.72%Best
Volatility (annualized)19.5%15.7%Best
Max Drawdown-58.8%-56.6%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$11,237$17,404Best
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 1, 2006May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 5, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (20.4 years).

IHF vs VTI 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 covers the 20.4 years both funds cover.

IHF vs VTI Performance

iShares US Health Care Providers ETF (IHF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IHF returned +19.13% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, IHF is up 17.66% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.

Over three years, IHF compounded at +5.51% per year against +20.35% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.36% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.28% annualized vs +9.26%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

IHF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 15.7% for VTI. 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 -58.8% for IHF and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

IHF charges 0.37% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $3 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IHF currently yields 0.92% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

IHF already in VTI93.0%

At least 93.0% of IHF's money is in holdings VTI also owns.

Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

Most of IHF is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, IHF as of Aug 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

50 positions in common, counted across the 60 positions we hold weights for in IHF and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 64 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in IHFWeight in VTIDifference
UNHUnitedhealth Group, Inc.20.14%0.52%19.62%
CVSCvs Health Corp.13.18%0.18%13.00%
ELVElevance Health Inc7.09%0.11%6.98%
VEEVVeeva Systems Inc6.28%0.04%6.24%
HCAHca Healthcare Inc.4.67%0.08%4.59%
HUMHumana Inc.4.43%0.07%4.36%
CNCCentene Corp.4.15%0.04%4.11%
LHLabcorp Holdings Inc4.00%0.03%3.97%
CICigna Corp.3.93%0.10%3.83%
DGXQuest Diagnostics Inc.3.90%0.03%3.87%

93.0% of IHF is already inside VTI.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

IHFVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, IHF or VTI?

IHF has an expense ratio of 0.37% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, IHF or VTI?

Over the past year IHF returned +19.13% vs +17.34% for VTI, so IHF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IHF annualized +9.26% vs +9.28% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, IHF or VTI?

IHF has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 15.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IHF -58.8% vs VTI -56.6%.

Should I hold both IHF and VTI?

IHF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

What is the holdings overlap between IHF and VTI?

At least 93.0% of IHF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 50 positions in common, counted across the 60 positions we hold weights for in IHF and 2,787 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, IHF or VTI?

IHF yields 0.92% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than IHF?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. IHF led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.