IBB tracks an index of U.S.-listed biotechnology equities. XLV tracks the Health Care Select Sector Index, covering S&P 500 health-care companies across industries. IBB is not limited to large caps, while XLV does not cover every health-care company. Compare holdings before assuming diversification.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
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.
IBB has outpaced XLV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 31.92% total return against 26.24%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — XLV has compounded at 11.61% a year, ahead of IBB at 8.85%. XLV has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 21.4% for IBB. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 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 Feb 2001” measures every fund from February 9, 2001 — 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 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.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Bottom lineChoose IBB if you want a focused biotechnology allocation. Choose XLV if you want S&P 500 health-care exposure across several industries. Compare current holdings, concentration, valuation, and net total returns over matching dates. Historical beta does not predict a particular future loss, and a dividend history does not guarantee future payments.
A biotechnology focus versus S&P 500 health care
IBB tracks an index of U.S.-listed biotechnology equities. XLV tracks the Health Care Select Sector Index, covering S&P 500 health-care companies across industries. IBB is not limited to large caps, while XLV does not cover every health-care company. Compare holdings before assuming diversification.
IBB
XLV
Approach
U.S.-listed biotechnology index
S&P 500 health-care sector index
Risk review
Clinical/regulatory outcomes, funding, and biotechnology concentration
Health-care policy, reimbursement, and large-company concentration
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.
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.
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 has paid the higher yield over the past 12 months, 1.44% vs 0.17% for IBB. We compare trailing 12-month yields here because IBB's latest distribution annualizes to 0.02% against 0.17% actually paid over the past 12 months, so annualizing a single payment would misstate its income.
XLV is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.08% compared to 0.44%.
They have different reference exposures: IBB is linked to ICE Biotechnology Index while XLV is linked to Health Care Select Sector Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
XLV is the larger fund by assets ($44.3B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
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On a $10,000 investment, IBB would generate roughly $0.50 cash per distribution, while XLV would produce $36.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
IBB yield0.02%
XLV yield1.45%
Cash diff on $10K$35.75
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, IBB would cost approximately $440 in fees vs $80 for XLV (simplified, not compounded). The $360.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
IBB ER0.44%
XLV ER0.08%
Strategy & risk
IBB tracks an index of U.S.-listed biotechnology equities. XLV tracks the Health Care Select Sector Index, covering S&P 500 health-care companies across industries. IBB is not limited to large caps, while XLV does not cover every health-care company. Compare holdings before assuming diversification. Beta describes historical benchmark sensitivity, not guaranteed downside protection.
IBB beta0.7
XLV beta0.52
Fund details
IBB is managed by iShares (launched 02/05/2001) with $10.5B in assets. XLV is managed by State Street (launched 12/16/1998) with $44.3B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I subtract IBB's expense ratio from its distribution yield?
No. Fund operating expenses reduce assets and are reflected in net performance; subtracting them again from a reported payout yield can misrepresent costs. Compare net total returns and the prospectus fee table. A small dividend does not mean fees consumed the fund's entire economic return.
How should I compare risk and ownership costs?
Use matching dates and definitions for returns, distributions, and fees. Beta describes historical benchmark sensitivity, not guaranteed downside protection. Check current bid-ask spreads and premiums or discounts; AUM alone does not determine the price available for your order.
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