XLV ETF — State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF

State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV)

XLV is a low-cost ETF that tracks the Health Care Select Sector Index. As of September 3, 2026, its distribution rate is 1.51%, its trailing-12-month yield is 1.46%, its expense ratio is 0.08%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 100/100 (Safe). Total return is 938.3% over the past 27.7 years, 4.9 points ahead of SPY at 933.4%.

At the current 1.51% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $151 per year, or $12.58 per month on an equivalent basis. Actual quarterly payments vary.

State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF tracks the Health Care Select Sector Index through a replication strategy, holding at least 95% of its assets in companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health care equipment and supplies, providers and services, life sciences tools, and health care technology. The fund distributes quarterly income at a modest current rate and carries a very low expense ratio of 0.08%. It appeals to investors seeking broad exposure to the health care sector with minimal fees.

XLV performance versus SPY

Data as of September 3, 2026.

Total return is 938.3% over the past 27.7 years, 4.9 points ahead of SPY at 933.4%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 10.5%.

XLV key facts

Data as of September 3, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

100 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

1.51%

Issuer

State Street

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

12/16/1998

Expense ratio

0.08%

Distribution rate

1.51%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

1.46%

Last close

$173.26

NAV

$172.96

Premium / discount

0.17% premium

AUM

$44,502,803,492

Market cap

$28,321,159,168

Average volume

5933824.0

Last dividend

$0.656

Last ex-dividend date

06/22/2026

Last payment date

06/24/2026

Beta

0.51

P/E ratio

30.9552

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (1.51%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (1.46%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of September 3, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of September 3, 2026.

Primary sources: State Street or company page; Index: Health Care Select Sector Index; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

XLV risks and drawbacks

XLV's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 10.5%.

Who may consider XLV — and who may not

XLV may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score. It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (XLV pays quarterly); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Compare XLV

XLV vs similar funds:

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Frequently asked questions

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