ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Tema Healthcare AI ETF and State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 14, 2026

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	HLTH	XLV
Full name	Tema Healthcare AI ETF	State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF
Issuer	Tema ETFs	State Street
Last Close	$27.78 as of August 14, 2026	$167.37 as of August 14, 2026
Distribution yield	—	1.57%
Distribution Safety Score™	—	100
Expense ratio	0.75%	0.09%
AUM	$2.30M	$41.9B
Distribution frequency	—	Quarterly
Underlying index	—	Health Care Select Sector Index
Objective	Seeks 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.	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	07/21/2026	12/16/1998
Beta	1.086	0.51
Last dividend	—	$0.6560
Ex-dividend date	—	06/22/2026

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

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 — XLV charges 0.09% against 0.75% for HLTH, and on funds tracking the same thing that gap compounds every year you hold.

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Tema ETFs

ETFs12

Total AUM$3.76B

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

Tema ETFs specializes in thematic investing, focusing on innovative sectors and mega-trends rather than traditional asset classes. The firm's current lineup consists of a single actively managed fund, the NASA ETF (NASDAQ: NASA), which targets companies involved in space exploration, satellite technology, and related aerospace industries. This niche approach appeals to investors seeking concentrated exposure to emerging technology themes beyond conventional dividend or income strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on HLTH.

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State Street

ETFs180

Total AUM$2127B

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

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on XLV.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Quick verdict

HLTH (Tema Healthcare AI ETF) and XLV (State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.

XLV currently shows a 1.57% distribution yield. HLTH has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

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

XLV has $41.9B in assets vs $2.30M for HLTH, but HLTH only launched July 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, HLTH has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, while XLV would produce $13.08/month, at current distribution rates.

HLTH yield—

XLV yield1.57%

Cost & efficiency

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

HLTH ER0.75%

XLV ER0.09%

Strategy & risk

HLTH is an ETF, while XLV tracks Health Care Select Sector Index with an index approach. Beta is 1.086 for HLTH and 0.51 for XLV, indicating XLV is less volatile relative to the market.

HLTH beta1.086

XLV beta0.51

Fund details

HLTH is managed by Tema ETFs (launched 07/21/2026) with $2.30M in assets. XLV is managed by State Street (launched 12/16/1998) with $41.9B in assets.

HLTH AUM$2.30M

XLV AUM$41.9B

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Frequently asked questions

Which of HLTH or XLV pays more dividend income?

XLV 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 XLV?

HLTH (Tema Healthcare AI ETF) is an ETF, while XLV (State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF) tracks Health Care Select Sector Index with an index approach. They are issued by Tema ETFs and State Street respectively.

Can I hold both HLTH and XLV?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, HLTH or XLV?

HLTH has an expense ratio of 0.75% while XLV 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 XLV generate?

At current rates, HLTH has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. The same in XLV would produce about $13.08 per month ($157.00 annually).

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HLTH vs XLV — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

HLTH and XLV are both healthcare-focused ETFs, but they pursue fundamentally different strategies. HLTH is an actively managed fund betting on healthcare companies deploying artificial intelligence—drug discovery, diagnostics, medical devices, and IT platforms. XLV is a passive index tracker that holds the broad S&P 500 Health Care Select Sector, offering exposure to legacy pharma, medical device giants, health insurers, and healthcare services firms without AI specialization.

How they differ

The biggest difference is strategy: HLTH is actively managed and concentrated in AI-driven healthcare businesses, while XLV passively tracks the entire healthcare sector of the S&P 500. That means HLTH carries manager risk and potential overlap with the broadest healthcare themes, while XLV offers the stability and transparency of index construction. Second, their scale and cost are inverted—XLV commands $41.9B in assets with a 0.09% expense ratio, while HLTH holds just $2.30M at 0.75%, reflecting HLTH's youth (inception July 2026) and niche strategy. Third, their sensitivity to market moves differs sharply: HLTH carries a beta of 1.086, meaning it amplifies broad market swings, while XLV's beta of 0.51 suggests it moves only half as much as the overall market—typical for a large, mature healthcare index. XLV also distributes 1.57% quarterly; HLTH reports no distribution.

Who each is best for

HLTH: Fits investors who believe AI will reshape healthcare delivery and discovery and are comfortable with active management's potential for outperformance or underperformance against the broader sector. These investors likely have a medium-to-long time horizon and higher risk tolerance.

XLV: Fits investors seeking steady, diversified healthcare exposure with minimal fees and lower volatility. Suits those who want a stable core holding in healthcare without betting on a single thematic trend or accepting active management risk.

Key risks to know

Concentration and manager risk (HLTH): An actively managed $2.30M fund betting on AI adoption in healthcare faces the dual risk that the theme underperforms and that the manager's stock picks lag the broader sector. Active alpha is not guaranteed.

Thematic obsolescence (HLTH): If AI's adoption in healthcare slows, faces regulatory headwinds, or disappoints relative to hype, HLTH's narrow mandate leaves little room for diversification out of that drawdown.

Sector cyclicality (XLV): Healthcare is less cyclical than industrials, but XLV still moves with healthcare earnings cycles, FDA approval rhythms, and insurance regulation—factors that can drive sharp sector rotations independent of overall market moves.

Index concentration (XLV): The Health Care Select Sector is dominated by a handful of mega-cap names (pharma and device leaders). A decline in those firms drags the entire index regardless of underlying healthcare demand.

Bottom line

If you're pursuing a thematic bet on AI reshaping healthcare and can tolerate the volatility and manager-selection risk of a small, actively managed fund, HLTH offers targeted exposure. If you want broad, low-cost healthcare sector access with half the market's typical volatility, XLV's size, cost, and index structure provide a simpler foundation. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

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