VHT vs XLV
Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares compared with State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
VHT
Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares
TTM yield · Quarterly
XLV
State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- XLV yields more today: 1.57% vs 1.25% (forward).
- VHT has grown its payout faster: 10.7%/yr vs 7.5%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- XLV has the longer streak of annual increases: 5 years vs 2.
- Over the last year VHT delivered the higher total return: +25.2% vs +23.5% (price change plus payouts).
- XLV is cheaper to own: 0.08% vs 0.09% expense ratio.
- XLV has the steadier distribution: consistency 93/100 vs 79/100.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | VHT | XLV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $314.61 | $167.13 |
| TTM yield | 1.50% | 1.52% |
| Forward yield | 1.25% | 1.57% |
| Annual payout per share | $3.948 | $2.624 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | Sep 21, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | 0.08% |
| 1-year payout growth | +18.4% | +5.8% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +10.7% | +7.5% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 2 years | 5 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 79/100 | 93/100 |
| 1-year total return | +25.2% | +23.5% |
| 1-year price return | +23.3% | +21.6% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 21.9B | 43.9B |
| Years paying | 21.7 | 26.7 |
| Sector / category | Health | Health |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| VHT | XLV | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 31.8 | 59.8 |
| Income per year | $125 | $157 |
| Income per month (avg) | $10 | $13 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| VHT Sep 23, 2026 | Oct 7, 2026 | $0.987 | Est. |
| VHT Dec 23, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | $0.987 | Est. |
| VHT Mar 24, 2027 | Apr 7, 2027 | $0.987 | Est. |
| XLV Sep 21, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 | $0.656 | Est. |
| XLV Dec 21, 2026 | Jan 4, 2027 | $0.656 | Est. |
| XLV Mar 22, 2027 | Apr 5, 2027 | $0.656 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
VHTXLV
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, VHT or XLV?
XLV currently has the higher trailing yield: VHT yields 1.50% and XLV yields 1.52%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do VHT and XLV pay?
VHT pays every quarter and XLV pays every quarter. VHT's next ex-date is Sep 23, 2026 and XLV's is Sep 21, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, VHT or XLV?
VHT has grown its payout faster: 10.7%/yr vs 7.5%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is VHT or XLV better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. VHT and XLV differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.