VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) Performance
PPH total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +13.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +26.8% total return
- 5 years
- +11.2% a year
- 10 years
- +9.7% a year
- Since first price
- +6.8% a year since 2000
PPH trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | PPH total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +4.5% | +4.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +4.9% | +4.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +14.5% | +13.5% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +13.3% | +11.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +26.8% | +24.3% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +57.5%+16.3%/yr | +48.3% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +69.8%+11.2%/yr | +54.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +152.2%+9.7%/yr | +108.6% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +391.5%+11.2%/yr | +241.3% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +444.0%+8.8%/yr | +187.5% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 1, 2000 | +475.6%+6.8%/yr | +152.1% | — | — | — |
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: PPH vs SPY
From Feb 1, 2000: PPH grew to $57,560, SPY to $86,272.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
PPH returns by calendar year
18 of 25 full years positive. Best 2013 (+36.8%), worst 2002 (−23.4%). 2026 is year to date.
PPH annual returns table
| Year | PPH | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +13.3% | −10.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +22.0% | −14.9% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +8.0% | −12.7% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +7.0% | −10.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +2.6% | −20.3% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +17.8% | −7.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +5.5% | −29.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +19.4% | −10.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.9% | −18.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +15.2% | −9.8% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −17.8% | −20.0% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +3.5% | −17.5% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +23.2% | −9.0% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +36.8% | −6.4% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +19.4% | −7.2% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +17.0% | −14.5% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +1.9% | −15.3% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +21.2% | −19.7% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −19.7% | −33.9% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +5.8% | −10.2% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +16.0% | −6.9% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | −1.7% | −11.7% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | −6.3% | −18.8% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +9.6% | −14.2% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −23.4% | −39.5% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | −12.7% | −21.0% | −11.8% | −33.3% | — |
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.
PPH largest drawdowns
Now 2.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 2000 | −46.5% | Jul 23, 2002 | Mar 1, 2012 | 1.6 years | 11.2 years |
| Aug 5, 2015 | −30.2% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jan 6, 2021 | 4.6 years | 5.4 years |
| Feb 8, 2000 | −21.1% | Mar 7, 2000 | Apr 4, 2000 | 28 days | 56 days |
| Apr 8, 2022 | −20.3% | Sep 27, 2022 | Aug 8, 2023 | 6 months | 1.3 years |
| Aug 30, 2024 | −18.1% | Apr 10, 2025 | Nov 11, 2025 | 7 months | 1.2 years |
| Jul 11, 2000 | −15.1% | Sep 6, 2000 | Oct 23, 2000 | 57 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
PPH risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +13.4% | +10.7% | +8.7% | +7.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9% | 14.2% | 15.0% | 14.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.66 | 0.53 | 0.48 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.08 | 0.85 | 0.72 | — |
| Best month | +10.8% | +10.8% | +12.0% | +12.0% |
| Worst month | −7.0% | −8.0% | −12.3% | −12.3% |
| Best 12 months | +36.0% | +36.0% | +36.0% | +42.4% |
| Worst 12 months | −8.9% | −8.9% | −9.8% | −28.9% |
| Positive months | 61% | 60% | 62% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.32 | 0.45 | 0.65 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.29 | 0.50 | 0.67 | — |
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.
PPH rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 309 | −28.9% | +6.7% | +42.4% | 68% |
| 3-year (a year) | 285 | −11.0% | +5.9% | +30.5% | 74% |
| 5-year (a year) | 261 | −8.1% | +6.5% | +25.5% | 84% |
| 10-year (a year) | 201 | −2.2% | +8.3% | +13.3% | 95% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2000. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
PPH performance overview
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) returned +26.8% over the past year and +9.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2000 it has returned +6.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $57,560. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −46.5%, from Dec 28, 2000 to Jul 23, 2002, and it took 9.6 years to get back to the old high. PPH finished 18 of its 25 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+36.8%) and the worst 2002 (−23.4%). Volatility has been 14.8% a year.
Related: PPH chart, PPH holdings, PPH dividends, PPH valuation. See the PPH overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
PPH performance FAQ
What is the PPH return over the past year?
PPH returned +26.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 24.3%.
What is the average annual return of PPH?
PPH has returned +11.2% a year over 5 years, +9.7% a year over 10 years, +6.8% a year since February 1, 2000 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in PPH be worth?
$10,000 invested in PPH at its first recorded close on February 1, 2000 would be worth about $57,560 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for PPH?
The worst calendar year was 2002, with a total return of −23.4%. The best was 2013 at +36.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of PPH?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −46.5% between December 28, 2000 and July 23, 2002. It recovered to the old high on March 1, 2012, 9.6 years after the bottom.
How volatile is PPH?
Over the past 3 years PPH had an annualized volatility of 13.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.66 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).