XLV vs VHT: which was the better investment?
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund against Vanguard Health Care ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 30, 2004 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did XLV beat VHT?
No — measured from Jan 30, 2004 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VHT came out ahead: $82,442 versus $75,839 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 9.9% annual return against 9.4%.
What would $10,000 in XLV be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) on Jan 30, 2004 would be worth about $75,839 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 658.4% (9.4% per year). The same $10,000 in VHT would be worth $82,442.
Which was riskier — XLV or VHT?
XLV swung with an annualized volatility of 16.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -39.2%; VHT ran at 16.9% volatility with a -39.1% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.45 for XLV vs 0.47 for VHT.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 30, 2004 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with XLV vs VHT. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.