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ETF Comparison

HLTH vs VHT: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Tema Healthcare AI ETF and Vanguard Health Care ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated November 6, 2026

No track record yet. HLTH launched within the last six months. The forward distribution rate is left blank until a payout is published.

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Price and total return

Compare the same available dates. Add a ticker or benchmark below; these controls change the chart only. The snapshot and article describe the original comparison.

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Distribution Safety Score

An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.

HLTH

—

Not rated

No published distribution safety rating is available.

VHT

100/ 100

Safe

High confidence

Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricHLTHVHT
Full nameTema Healthcare AI ETFVanguard Health Care ETF
IssuerTema ETFsVanguard
Last Close$26.95 as of November 6, 2026$341.23 as of November 6, 2026
Distribution rate—1.14%
Trailing 12-month yield—1.35%
Distribution Safety Score™ —100
Safety-Adjusted Yield —1.14%
Expense ratio0.75%0.09%
AUM$11.7M$20.7B
Distribution frequencyNoneQuarterly
Underlying indexActively managed (no tracked index recorded)MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index
ObjectiveSeeks long-term capital appreciation through an actively managed portfolio of companies applying artificial intelligence across healthcare — including AI-driven drug discovery, diagnostics, medical imaging, medical devices, and healthcare IT platforms.Tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date07/21/202601/26/2004
Beta—0.57
Last dividend—$0.969
Ex-dividend date—09/23/2026

— Distribution rate, Safety-Adjusted Yield, last dividend, and ex-dividend date are not yet available because HLTH launched July 2026; these fields will populate after the first distribution.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

HLTH has lagged VHT over the year to date, posting a 5.60% total return against 19.75%. VHT has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 17.8% against 35.9% for HLTH. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulativeSince Jul 2026Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
HLTH5.60%5.60%35.9%0.390.52-12.6%
VHT19.75%13.35%17.8%2.103.55-5.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Jul 2026” measures every fund from July 21, 2026 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the shared window since Jul 2026. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the shared window since Jul 2026) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Not a distribution payer

HLTH (Tema Healthcare AI ETF) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. HLTH is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield.

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Bottom lineWe won't call this one: HLTH launched July 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional. What is already clear from the numbers above: the two do not cost the same — VHT charges 0.09% against 0.75% for HLTH, and on funds tracking the same thing that gap compounds every year you hold.

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

ETFs15
Total AUM$4.23B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Tema ETFs is known for offering thematically focused and income-oriented strategies that target specific industries and trends rather than broad market exposure. The issuer's lineup spans both income-generating funds and thematic investments centered on sectors such as defense, healthcare, technology, and infrastructure, with tickers including ARMY, CANC, DSPY, HLTH, LAZR, NASA, and VOLT. Tema's approach appeals to investors seeking targeted exposure to niche market segments, combining specialized industry focus with dividend and yield strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on HLTH.

ETFs116
Total AUM$4.66T

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VHT.

Quick verdict

HLTH (Tema Healthcare AI ETF) and VHT (Vanguard Health Care ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VHT currently shows a 1.14% distribution yield. HLTH has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

VHT is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.09% compared to 0.75%.

VHT has $20.7B in assets vs $11.7M for HLTH, but HLTH only launched July 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.

Top-holdings overlap

Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.

1 shared position
HLTH 4.8% of its top-10 weight
VHT 3.5% of its top-10 weight
PositionHLTHVHT
TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
4.76%
3.55%
Holdings as-of dates unavailable · mode DIRECT (top 10)

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, HLTH has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available, while VHT would pay about $114.00 a year (about $28.50 per quarterly distribution).

HLTH yield—
VHT yield1.14%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, HLTH would cost approximately $750 in fees vs $90 for VHT (simplified, not compounded). The $660.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

HLTH ER0.75%
VHT ER0.09%

Strategy & risk

HLTH is an actively managed ETF built around healthcare exposure, while VHT tracks MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index.

HLTH beta—
VHT beta0.57

Fund details

HLTH is managed by Tema ETFs (launched 07/21/2026) with $11.7M in assets. VHT is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $20.7B in assets.

HLTH AUM$11.7M
VHT AUM$20.7B

Frequently asked questions

Which of HLTH or VHT pays more dividend income?

VHT currently reports a distribution yield, while HLTH has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.

What is the difference between HLTH and VHT?

HLTH (Tema Healthcare AI ETF) is an actively managed ETF built around healthcare exposure, while VHT (Vanguard Health Care ETF) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index. They are issued by Tema ETFs and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both HLTH and VHT?

Yes. Their disclosed top-10 holdings share only 1 position, so combining both adds mostly distinct underlying names — see the holdings-overlap section above. Overlap outside the disclosed top 10 can still exist.

Which has lower fees, HLTH or VHT?

HLTH has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VHT charges 0.09%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in HLTH vs VHT generate?

At current distribution rates, HLTH does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate. $10,000 in VHT would pay about $114.00 a year (about $28.50 per quarterly distribution).

Which has performed better historically, HLTH or VHT?

HLTH has lagged VHT over the year to date, posting a 5.60% total return against 19.75%. VHT has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 17.8% against 35.9% for HLTH. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Dividend dates and history

HLTH vs VHT — at a glance

Generated October 31, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

HLTH and VHT are both healthcare equity ETFs, but they differ fundamentally in approach and scope. VHT is a broad index fund tracking the MSCI US healthcare universe across all market capitalizations, while HLTH is an actively managed fund focused narrowly on companies deploying artificial intelligence within healthcare. VHT has been operating since 01/26/2004 and holds $20.7B in assets; HLTH launched 3 months and holds $11.7M.

How they differ

The largest distinction is strategy: VHT is a passive index tracker holding the full breadth of US healthcare stocks, whereas HLTH is an actively managed fund concentrated in AI-applied healthcare. This drives everything else. VHT's 0.09% expense ratio is substantially lower than HLTH's 0.75%, a 0.66 percentage-point gap typical of index versus active management. The asset-base gap is dramatic—VHT's $20.7B exceeds HLTH's $11.7M, reflecting VHT's two-decade track record versus HLTH's recent launch.

Who each is best for

  • VHT: Fits investors seeking straightforward, low-cost exposure to US healthcare companies across size and market segments, who view the sector as a long-term holding and prefer quarterly income over capital appreciation targeting.
  • HLTH: Fits investors with conviction in artificial intelligence as a structural driver within healthcare and who are comfortable with active management, concentrated thematic exposure, and an unproven track record in exchange for potential upside from a narrower opportunity set.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration and thematic risk (HLTH): A narrow focus on AI-applied healthcare means HLTH's portfolio is likely concentrated in a small subset of publicly traded companies and vulnerable to hype cycles, regulatory setbacks in AI, or underperformance if AI adoption in healthcare lags expectations.
  • Unproven active management (HLTH): HLTH's recent inception means there is no historical record of the fund's ability to select outperforming AI healthcare stocks or manage downside. Active healthcare stock-picking carries no guarantee of excess returns after fees.
  • Sector cyclicality (both): Healthcare stocks are sensitive to policy shifts (drug pricing regulations, reimbursement rates), patent cliffs, and clinical trial outcomes. Both funds are exposed to these sector-wide swings.
  • Index concentration risk (VHT): While VHT is broader than HLTH, the MSCI index it tracks is still concentrated in larger healthcare names; sector moves can correlate with a small number of influential stocks.

Bottom line

If you want affordable, diversified US healthcare exposure with a 20-year track record and a 1.14% payout, VHT aligns with that profile. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.