VGHAX vs VXF
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares vs Vanguard Extended Market ETF
Which is better, VGHAX or VXF?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Blend.
VXF has a lower expense ratio. VGHAX led over 1Y, VXF over 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 | VGHAX | VXF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.27% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $32.8B | $30.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.15% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 109 | 3,385 |
| YTD Price Return | +0.75% | +12.35%Best |
| 1Y Price Return | +13.96%Best | +12.78% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -0.66% | +16.82%Best |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -2.70% | +4.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 20.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.7%Best | -36.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,721 | $12,684Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2001 | Dec 27, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for VGHAX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. VGHAX yields 6.15% and VXF 1.01% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2021 to Sep 10, 2026 (5 years).
VGHAX vs VXF 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
VGHAX vs VXF Performance
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Extended Market ETF (VXF) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VGHAX returned +13.96% while VXF returned +12.78%. Year to date, VGHAX is up 0.75% versus a gain of 12.35% for VXF.
Over three years, VGHAX compounded at -0.66% per year against +16.82% for VXF; over five years the annualized figures are -2.70% and +4.87% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.2% compared with 15.3% for VGHAX. 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 -32.7% for VGHAX and -36.8% for VXF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VGHAX charges 0.27% per year while VXF charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $27 vs $5 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VGHAX currently yields 6.15% against 1.01% for VXF.
Structure and taxes
VGHAX is a mutual fund and VXF is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.1% of VGHAX's money is in holdings VXF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXF, our book for it covers 94.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VGHAX and VXF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, VGHAX as of Mar 31, 2026 and VXF as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
30 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in VGHAX and 3,295 in VXF, against full books of 109 and 3,385.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VGHAX | Weight in VXF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 1.45% | 0.45% | 1.00% |
| UTHRUnited Therapeutics Corp | 1.38% | 0.26% | 1.12% |
| RVMDRevolution Medicines Inc | 0.68% | 0.42% | 0.26% |
| IONSIonis Pharmaceuticals Inc | 0.78% | 0.15% | 0.63% |
| CYTKCytokinetics Inc | 0.73% | 0.13% | 0.60% |
| NTRANatera Inc | 0.40% | 0.44% | 0.04% |
| MDGLMadrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc | 0.63% | 0.11% | 0.52% |
| CGONCg Oncology Inc | 0.54% | 0.06% | 0.48% |
| SRRKScholar Rock | 0.49% | 0.06% | 0.43% |
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 0.45% | 0.08% | 0.37% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VGHAX and VXF 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, VGHAX or VXF?
VGHAX has an expense ratio of 0.27% while VXF charges 0.05%. VXF is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VGHAX or VXF?
Over the past year VGHAX returned +13.96% vs +12.78% for VXF, so VGHAX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VGHAX or VXF?
VXF has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 15.3% for VGHAX. Worst drawdown: VGHAX -32.7% vs VXF -36.8%.
Should I hold both VGHAX and VXF?
VGHAX and VXF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 VGHAX and VXF?
At least 14.1% of VGHAX's money is in holdings VXF also owns. Our book for VXF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in VGHAX and 3,295 in VXF.
Which pays a higher dividend, VGHAX or VXF?
VGHAX yields 6.15% while VXF yields 1.01%, so VGHAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VGHAX or VXF in a taxable account?
VXF is an ETF and VGHAX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VXF better than VGHAX?
VXF has a lower expense ratio. VGHAX led over 1Y, VXF 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.