

iShares Global Healthcare ETF offers a lower expense ratio and broader sector exposure than First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund. First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund focuses exclusively on biotechnology while iShares Global Healthcare ETF includes pharmaceuticals and equipment.

Healthcare ETFs are hovering near 52-week highs as earnings prospects improve, clinical breakthroughs advance and GLP-1 demand expands. Explore five ETFs riding the rally.


iShares Global Healthcare ETF provides broad exposure to international medical companies with a higher dividend yield than its domestic counterpart. iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF concentrates on American companies and has produced higher total returns over the past year and five-year periods.

Healthcare equipment is undervalued based on historical averages, while other subsectors are slightly overvalued. The iShares Global Healthcare ETF offers diversified global healthcare exposure, with 72% in US companies and 110 holdings. Despite lower company-specific risk and better value, IXJ has underperformed XLV by about 2% annualized over both long and short timeframes.

Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF has a significantly lower expense ratio than iShares Global Healthcare ETF. iShares Global Healthcare ETF provides exposure to international healthcare markets, whereas the Fidelity fund focuses on U.S. equities.

XLV has a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to IXJ's 0.38%. IXJ provides broader exposure with 110 holdings across global markets, while XLV concentrates on 60 domestic S&P 500 stocks.

iShares Global Healthcare ETF provides broad sector coverage with a higher dividend yield than State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF. State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF has delivered stronger total returns over the last year but experiences significantly higher maximum drawdowns.