IYH vs VOO
iShares US Healthcare ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IYH or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IYH led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.4%.
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 | IYH | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.11% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 104 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +9.80% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.40%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.11% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.86% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.4%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,294 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.4% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 18, 2026 (16 years).
IYH vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
IYH vs VOO Performance
iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IYH returned +24.40% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, IYH is up 9.80% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, IYH compounded at +10.11% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +5.86% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +12.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.7% for IYH. 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 -28.4% for IYH and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYH charges 0.38% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $3 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYH currently yields 1.11% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
90.3% of IYH's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 8.5% of VOO's money is in holdings IYH also owns.
Most of IYH is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
54 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in IYH and 494 in VOO, against full books of 104 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 434 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IYH (90.7% of the fund), and 43 for IYH that do not appear in VOO (8.8%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IYH | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 14.45% | 1.41% | 13.04% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 10.02% | 0.96% | 9.06% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 7.10% | 0.69% | 6.41% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 5.72% | 0.50% | 5.22% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 5.50% | 0.58% | 4.92% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 3.63% | 0.32% | 3.31% |
| TMOThermo Fisherscientific Inc. | 3.59% | 0.33% | 3.26% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 2.99% | 0.29% | 2.70% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 2.84% | 0.25% | 2.59% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.53% | 0.22% | 2.31% |
90.3% of IYH is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IYH or VOO?
IYH has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYH or VOO?
Over the past year IYH returned +24.40% vs +16.61% for VOO, so IYH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), IYH annualized +12.10% vs +13.39% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYH or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.7% for IYH. Worst drawdown: IYH -28.4% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IYH and VOO?
IYH and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 IYH and VOO?
90.3% of IYH's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 8.5% of VOO's is in holdings IYH also owns. They hold 54 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in IYH and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYH or VOO?
IYH yields 1.11% while VOO yields 1.04%, so IYH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IYH?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IYH led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.