The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) and the Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VT) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. XLV is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors Health fund and VT is a Vanguard N/A fund. So, what’s the difference between XLV and VT? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of XLV is 0.04 percentage points higher than VT’s (0.12% vs. 0.08%). XLV also has a higher exposure to the healthcare sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, XLV has provided higher returns than VT over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare XLV vs. VT. We’ll look at fund composition and risk metrics, as well as at their portfolio growth and performance. Moreover, I’ll also discuss XLV’s and VT’s annual returns, industry exposure, and holdings and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| XLV | VT | |
| Name | Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Category | Health | N/A |
| Issuer | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard |
| AUM | 27.88B | 30.44B |
| Avg. Return | 15.02% | 10.42% |
| Div. Yield | 1.4% | 1.65% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.08% |
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) is a Health fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 27.88B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 15.02% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.4% with an expense ratio of 0.12%.
The Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VT) is a N/A fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 30.44B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 10.42% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.65% with an expense ratio of 0.08%.
XLV’s dividend yield is 0.25% lower than that of VT (1.4% vs. 1.65%). Also, XLV yielded on average 4.61% more per year over the past decade (15.02% vs. 10.42%). The expense ratio of XLV is 0.04 percentage points higher than VT’s (0.12% vs. 0.08%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| XLV | VT | |
| Technology | 0.0% | 19.63% |
| Industrials | 0.0% | 10.7% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 3.48% |
| Communication Services | 0.0% | 9.02% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 2.6% |
| Healthcare | 100.0% | 11.58% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.0% | 6.71% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 3.64% |
| Financial Services | 0.0% | 15.36% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 0.0% | 12.32% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 4.97% |
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) has the most exposure to the Healthcare sector at 100.0%. This is followed by Technology and Industrials at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Real Estate (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
XLV’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Utilities, Communication Services, Energy, and Industrials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.
The Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VT) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 19.63%. This is followed by Financial Services and Consumer Cyclical at 15.36% and 12.32% respectively. Energy (3.48%), Real Estate (3.64%), and Basic Materials (4.97%) only make up 12.09% of the fund’s total assets.
VT’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Communication Services, Industrials, Healthcare, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 6.71%, 9.02%, 10.7%, 11.58%, and 12.32%.
XLV is 88.42% more exposed to the Healthcare sector than VT (100.0% vs 11.58%). XLV’s exposure to Technology and Industrials stocks is 19.63% lower and 10.70% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 19.63% and 0.0% vs. 10.7%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Financial Services, and Real Estate also make up 31.32% less of the fund’s holdings compared to VT (0.00% vs. 31.32%).
Holdings
| XLV Holdings | Weight |
| Johnson & Johnson | 9.19% |
| UnitedHealth Group Inc | 8.01% |
| Pfizer Inc | 4.64% |
| Abbott Laboratories | 4.36% |
| AbbVie Inc | 4.21% |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc | 4.2% |
| Merck & Co Inc | 4.17% |
| Eli Lilly and Co | 3.87% |
| Danaher Corp | 3.61% |
| Medtronic PLC | 3.54% |
XLV’s Top Holdings are Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group Inc, Pfizer Inc, Abbott Laboratories, and AbbVie Inc at 9.19%, 8.01%, 4.64%, 4.36%, and 4.21%.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (4.2%), Merck & Co Inc (4.17%), and Eli Lilly and Co (3.87%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Danaher Corp and Medtronic PLC are also represented in the XLV’s holdings at 3.61% and 3.54%.
| VT Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 2.85% |
| Microsoft Corp | 2.71% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 1.98% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 1.1% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 0.97% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 0.95% |
| Tesla Inc | 0.7% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 0.64% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | 0.62% |
| Tencent Holdings Ltd | 0.6% |
VT’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Alphabet Inc Class A at 2.85%, 2.71%, 1.98%, 1.1%, and 0.97%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (0.95%), Tesla Inc (0.7%), and NVIDIA Corp (0.64%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. JPMorgan Chase & Co and Tencent Holdings Ltd are also represented in the VT’s holdings at 0.62% and 0.6%.
Risk Analysis
| XLV | VT | |
| Mean Return | 1.27 | 0.9 |
| R-squared | 58.19 | 99.35 |
| Std. Deviation | 12.94 | 14.19 |
| Alpha | 7.75 | 0.2 |
| Beta | 0.7 | 1.01 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.13 | 0.71 |
| Treynor Ratio | 21.1 | 9.5 |
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) has a Alpha of 7.75 with a Treynor Ratio of 21.1 and a Standard Deviation of 12.94. Its Beta is 0.7 while XLV’s R-squared is 58.19. Furthermore, the fund has a Mean Return of 1.27 and a Sharpe Ratio of 1.13.
The Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VT) has a Beta of 1.01 with a Alpha of 0.2 and a Mean Return of 0.9. Its Standard Deviation is 14.19 while VT’s Treynor Ratio is 9.5. Furthermore, the fund has a Sharpe Ratio of 0.71 and a R-squared of 99.35.
XLV’s Mean Return is 0.37 points higher than that of VT and its R-squared is 41.16 points lower. With a Standard Deviation of 12.94, XLV is slightly less volatile than VT. The Alpha and Beta of XLV are 7.55 points higher and 0.31 points lower than VT’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | XLV | VT |
| 2020 | 13.33% | 16.74% |
| 2019 | 20.63% | 26.8% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | -9.67% |
| 2017 | 21.7% | 24.19% |
| 2016 | -2.83% | 8.77% |
| 2015 | 6.82% | -1.88% |
| 2014 | 25.17% | 3.97% |
| 2013 | 41.24% | 22.98% |
| 2012 | 17.56% | 17.33% |
| 2011 | 12.44% | -7.71% |
| 2010 | 2.91% | 13.05% |
XLV had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 41.24%. XLV’s worst year over the past decade yielded -2.83% and occurred in 2016. In most years the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund provided moderate returns such as in 2011, 2020, and 2012 where annual returns amounted to 12.44%, 13.33%, and 17.56% respectively.
The year 2019 was the strongest year for VT, returning 26.8% on an annual basis. The poorest year for VT in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -9.67%. Most years the Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2016, 2010, and 2020, when gains were 8.77%, 13.05%, and 16.74% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| XLV | $10,000 | $44,147 | 15.02% |
| VT | $10,000 | $27,739 | 10.42% |
A $10,000 investment in XLV would have resulted in a final balance of $44,147. This is a profit of $34,147 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.02%.
With a $10,000 investment in VT, the end total would have been $27,739. This equates to a $17,739 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.42%.
XLV’s CAGR is 4.61 percentage points higher than that of VT and as a result, would have yielded $16,408 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, XLV outperformed VT by 4.61% annually.
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