iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) Performance
IXJ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +13.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +19.6% total return
- 5 years
- +6.3% a year
- 10 years
- +10.1% a year
- Since first price
- +7.7% a year since 2001
IXJ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | IXJ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +6.5% | +6.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +10.2% | +10.2% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +18.3% | +17.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +13.3% | +12.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +19.6% | +17.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +41.2%+12.2%/yr | +35.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +35.7%+6.3%/yr | +26.6% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +161.2%+10.1%/yr | +125.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +414.7%+11.5%/yr | +301.5% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +432.8%+8.7%/yr | +273.9% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 21, 2001 | +530.9%+7.7%/yr | +330.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: IXJ vs SPY
From Nov 21, 2001: IXJ grew to $63,087, SPY to $104,534.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
IXJ returns by calendar year
20 of 24 full years positive. Best 2013 (+35.8%), worst 2008 (−20.7%). 2026 is year to date.
IXJ annual returns table
| Year | IXJ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +13.3% | −10.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +15.0% | −12.6% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +0.6% | −14.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +3.6% | −10.0% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −4.9% | −17.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +19.6% | −7.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +12.7% | −27.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +23.2% | −6.9% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | +2.8% | −14.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +20.4% | −4.3% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −6.0% | −12.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +6.0% | −15.2% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +17.3% | −8.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +35.8% | −6.2% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +17.7% | −7.6% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +10.8% | −16.5% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +1.9% | −16.2% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +17.5% | −22.4% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −20.7% | −36.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +3.7% | −9.9% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +10.5% | −7.2% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +6.8% | −5.5% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +4.0% | −11.3% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +19.0% | −11.3% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −17.9% | −31.4% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
IXJ largest drawdowns
Now 0.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2007 | −40.6% | Mar 9, 2009 | Apr 26, 2011 | 1.8 years | 4.0 years |
| Nov 21, 2001 | −32.0% | Jul 23, 2002 | Apr 13, 2005 | 8 months | 3.4 years |
| Feb 12, 2020 | −27.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jul 6, 2020 | 40 days | 5 months |
| Aug 5, 2015 | −18.8% | Feb 11, 2016 | Jun 19, 2017 | 6 months | 1.9 years |
| Aug 30, 2024 | −18.1% | May 14, 2025 | Jan 6, 2026 | 8 months | 1.4 years |
| Apr 8, 2022 | −17.5% | Sep 27, 2022 | Jan 8, 2024 | 6 months | 1.8 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
IXJ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +9.0% | +5.5% | +8.9% | +7.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.4% | 14.2% | 13.7% | 13.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.39 | 0.20 | 0.53 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 0.57 | 0.29 | 0.81 | — |
| Best month | +8.3% | +8.7% | +11.3% | +11.3% |
| Worst month | −8.0% | −8.0% | −8.1% | −14.2% |
| Best 12 months | +22.5% | +22.5% | +29.6% | +43.0% |
| Worst 12 months | −12.0% | −12.0% | −12.0% | −31.0% |
| Positive months | 61% | 55% | 62% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.42 | 0.55 | 0.63 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.39 | 0.61 | 0.71 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
IXJ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 288 | −31.0% | +9.4% | +43.0% | 79% |
| 3-year (a year) | 264 | −10.2% | +8.4% | +26.9% | 88% |
| 5-year (a year) | 240 | −4.4% | +8.7% | +22.9% | 96% |
| 10-year (a year) | 180 | +2.2% | +9.2% | +15.0% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2001. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
IXJ performance overview
iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) returned +19.6% over the past year and +10.1% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2001 it has returned +7.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $63,087. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −40.6%, from May 7, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 2.1 years to get back to the old high. IXJ finished 20 of its 24 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+35.8%) and the worst 2008 (−20.7%). Volatility has been 13.2% a year.
Related: IXJ chart, IXJ holdings, IXJ dividends, IXJ valuation. See the IXJ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
IXJ performance FAQ
What is the IXJ return over the past year?
IXJ returned +19.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 17.9%.
What is the average annual return of IXJ?
IXJ has returned +6.3% a year over 5 years, +10.1% a year over 10 years, +7.7% a year since November 21, 2001 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in IXJ be worth?
$10,000 invested in IXJ at its first recorded close on November 21, 2001 would be worth about $63,087 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for IXJ?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −20.7%. The best was 2013 at +35.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of IXJ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −40.6% between May 7, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on April 26, 2011, 2.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is IXJ?
Over the past 3 years IXJ had an annualized volatility of 13.4% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.39 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).