Best Healthcare ETFs to Buy in 2026
Healthcare, biotech and medical-device ETFs with at least $100 million in assets, ranked by size.
ETFs matching the screen
Data as of the October 29, 2026 close| XLVHealth Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | $48.20B | 16.4% | −10.5% | 0.54 | +30.0% | +16.3% |
| VHTVanguard Health Care ETF | Vanguard Health Care ETF | $20.60B | 15.8% | −10.4% | 0.58 | +28.9% | +17.1% |
| IBBiShares Biotechnology ETF | iShares Biotechnology ETF | $11.30B | 22.7% | −9.60% | 0.72 | +39.1% | +25.0% |
| XBISPDR S&P Biotech ETF | SPDR S&P Biotech ETF | $10.90B | 29.0% | −14.9% | 0.86 | +42.8% | +35.3% |
| IYHiShares U.S. Healthcare ETF | iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF | $4.64B | 16.4% | −10.6% | 0.56 | +29.3% | +16.0% |
| IXJiShares Global Healthcare ETF | iShares Global Healthcare ETF | $4.61B | 15.8% | −10.8% | 0.55 | +24.5% | +14.3% |
| IHIiShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF | iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF | $3.66B | 20.6% | −26.1% | 0.82 | −8.40% | +8.30% |
| FHLCFidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF | Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF | $3.64B | 15.8% | −10.4% | 0.58 | +29.1% | +17.1% |
| FBTFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund | First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund | $3.10B | 22.0% | −14.3% | 0.68 | +48.7% | +28.7% |
| ARKGARK Genomic Revolution ETF | ARK Genomic Revolution ETF | $2.47B | 45.0% | −27.5% | 1.74 | +83.9% | +35.3% |
| IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF | iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF | $1.60B | 18.7% | −9.70% | 0.48 | +46.4% | +26.3% |
| IHFiShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF | iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF | $1.39B | 20.4% | −18.4% | 0.70 | +20.4% | +8.40% |
| FTXHFirst Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF | First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF | $1.17B | 17.8% | −7.50% | 0.46 | +50.1% | +24.0% |
| FXHFirst Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund | First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund | $1.17B | 16.0% | −12.2% | 0.74 | +24.6% | +16.0% |
| PBPHPortfolio Building Block World Pharma and Biotech Index ETF | Portfolio Building Block World Pharma and Biotech Index ETF | $1.16B | 18.5% | −11.1% | — | — | — |
| PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF | VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF | $1.08B | 18.4% | −10.8% | 0.45 | +31.1% | +18.6% |
| RSPHInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF | Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF | $982.0M | 16.7% | −10.9% | 0.78 | +33.1% | +17.4% |
| PJPInvesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF | Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF | $572.0M | 17.6% | −9.40% | 0.44 | +37.1% | +25.1% |
| BBHVanEck Biotech ETF | VanEck Biotech ETF | $523.0M | 22.3% | −10.5% | 0.70 | +46.0% | +22.0% |
| XPHSPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF | SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF | $456.0M | 23.6% | −16.4% | 0.62 | +34.9% | +23.9% |
| PBEInvesco Dynamic Biotechnology & Genome ETF | Invesco Dynamic Biotechnology & Genome ETF | $452.0M | 19.9% | −11.7% | 0.72 | +44.4% | +26.3% |
| IDNAiShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF | iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF | $338.0M | 29.6% | −10.7% | 0.97 | +73.1% | +36.8% |
| PINKSimplify Health Care ETF | Simplify Health Care ETF | $336.0M | 18.8% | −16.8% | 0.73 | +23.6% | +20.9% |
| PTHInvesco DWA Healthcare Momentum ETF | Invesco DWA Healthcare Momentum ETF | $299.0M | 26.9% | −12.8% | 0.82 | +33.6% | +29.3% |
| MJAmplify Alternative Harvest ETF | Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF | $258.0M | 67.0% | −48.7% | 1.21 | −29.2% | −7.50% |
| XHSSPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF | SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF | $226.0M | 17.6% | −12.0% | 0.94 | +38.1% | +23.0% |
| CANCTema Oncology ETF | Tema Oncology ETF | $216.0M | 23.5% | −13.2% | 0.70 | +38.3% | +27.3% |
| SBIOALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF | ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF | $193.0M | 32.3% | −29.2% | 0.78 | +26.7% | +35.2% |
| PSCHInvesco S&P SmallCap Health Care ETF | Invesco S&P SmallCap Health Care ETF | $176.0M | 19.5% | −15.4% | 0.87 | +33.5% | +17.6% |
| XHESPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF | SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF | $154.0M | 22.8% | −18.3% | 0.99 | +17.9% | +12.3% |
| BBPVirtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF | Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF | $134.0M | 26.4% | −9.40% | 0.59 | +43.7% | +32.4% |
| LFSCF/m Emerald Life Sciences Innovation ETF | F/m Emerald Life Sciences Innovation ETF | $132.0M | 27.9% | −17.6% | 0.93 | +41.6% | — |
| IBBQInvesco Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF | Invesco Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF | $119.0M | 22.4% | −8.60% | 0.63 | +39.6% | +27.0% |
| GNOMGlobal X Genomics & Biotechnology ETF | Global X Genomics & Biotechnology ETF | $117.0M | 33.1% | −18.2% | 1.22 | +68.0% | +28.0% |
| HTECRobo Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation ETF | Robo Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation ETF | $116.0M | 22.6% | −16.3% | 1.06 | +42.1% | +28.5% |
| KUREKraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF | KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF | $107.0M | 27.6% | −24.6% | 0.28 | −4.10% | +2.10% |
End-of-day prices and fund data from EODHD. Returns are total returns with distributions reinvested; 3-, 5- and 10-year returns are annualized. Assets, expense ratios and holdings come from the issuers' latest reports (refreshed monthly). For information only, not investment advice.
Screening criteria
- Sector focus: healthcare
- Standard strategy: leveraged, inverse, covered-call and buffer funds excluded
- Assets of $100 million or more
US-listed ETFs and ETNs; funds that have not traded for more than a week are excluded. Change or add filters above to refine the list; the full ETF screener has more than 50 filters.
About this screen
Healthcare ETFs hold drug makers, biotechnology firms, medical-device makers, insurers and service providers. Demand for healthcare depends less on the economy than most sectors, so broad healthcare funds have often held up better in recessions. Aging populations and medical innovation are the long-term themes investors associate with the group, along with steady dividends from large pharmaceutical companies.
Not all healthcare funds behave alike. Broad sector funds are dominated by large pharma and insurers, while biotech funds hold many smaller companies whose prices swing on trial results and drug approvals. This page opens on the Risk tab so volatility and maximum drawdown can be compared directly. Check holdings count on the Fund tab and returns on the Performance tab.
Best Healthcare ETFs to Buy in 2026 FAQ
How many healthcare ETFs are there?
As of the October 29, 2026 close, 36 healthcare sector ETFs had at least $100 million in assets. The largest are Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) and iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB).
Are healthcare ETFs defensive?
Broad healthcare funds are often considered defensive because people keep buying medicine and care in a downturn. Biotech and small-cap healthcare funds are not: they are among the more volatile equity funds and depend heavily on financing conditions and regulatory decisions.
What is the difference between healthcare and biotech ETFs?
Healthcare ETFs cover the whole sector, including pharmaceuticals, insurers, hospitals and device makers. Biotech ETFs focus on companies developing drugs from living organisms, many of them not yet profitable, so their returns are more volatile.
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