A head-to-head comparison of iShares Biotechnology ETF and State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IBB.
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.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
IBB has outpaced XLV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 43.42% total return against 19.27%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — XLV has compounded at 9.75% a year, ahead of IBB at 8.05%. XLV has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.3% against 20.4% for IBB. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Feb 2001” measures every fund from February 9, 2001 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. 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 trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
IBB (iShares Biotechnology ETF) and XLV (State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
XLV offers the higher yield at 1.66% vs 0.05% for IBB. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
XLV is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.09% compared to 0.45%.
They track different benchmarks: IBB is linked to ICE Biotechnology Index while XLV tracks Health Care Select Sector Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
XLV is the larger fund by assets ($39.2B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, IBB would generate roughly $0.42/month, while XLV would produce $13.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
IBB yield0.05%
XLV yield1.66%
Monthly diff on $10K$13.42
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, IBB would cost approximately $450 in fees vs $90 for XLV (simplified, not compounded). The $360.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
IBB ER0.45%
XLV ER0.09%
Strategy & risk
IBB tracks ICE Biotechnology Index, while XLV tracks Health Care Select Sector Index with an index approach. Beta is 0.69 for IBB and 0.51 for XLV, indicating XLV is less volatile relative to the market.
IBB beta0.69
XLV beta0.51
Fund details
IBB is managed by iShares (launched 02/05/2001) with $7.84B in assets. XLV is managed by State Street (launched 12/16/1998) with $39.2B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is IBB or XLV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. XLV currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between IBB and XLV?
IBB (iShares Biotechnology ETF) tracks ICE Biotechnology Index, while XLV (State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF) tracks Health Care Select Sector Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and State Street respectively.
Can I hold both IBB 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, IBB or XLV?
IBB has an expense ratio of 0.45% 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 IBB vs XLV generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in IBB would generate roughly $0.42 per month ($5.00 annually). The same in XLV would produce about $13.83 per month ($166.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, IBB or XLV?
IBB has outpaced XLV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 43.42% total return against 19.27%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — XLV has compounded at 9.75% a year, ahead of IBB at 8.05%. XLV has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.3% against 20.4% for IBB. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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