IBB — iShares Biotechnology ETF

Overview

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) is a Healthcare sector fund managed by iShares with $9.09 billion in assets under management. It currently holds an overall rank of #40 out of 120 tracked ETFs across all categories and has received an ETFValuer grade of B with a score of 69.9/100. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.44% and offers a dividend yield of 0.18%. With a trading price of $196.34, the substantial asset base suggests significant investor adoption within the category. This category contains 3 ETFs tracked by ETFValuer, placing IBB in a relatively small group of peers. The combination of high assets and a mid-tier rank indicates a well-established presence despite the limited number of competitors. Its cost structure and income profile align with a large-cap biotechnology exposure strategy.

Over the last day, the fund declined by 0.95% before recovering to a weekly gain of 3.23%. Monthly returns accelerated significantly to +16.58%, a pace that continued into the three-month period at +16.54%. The six-month return of +17.43% shows a slight deceleration compared to the shorter-term momentum, while the year-to-date figure stands at +16.28%. Long-term performance remains robust with a one-year return of +53.64% and a three-year return of +54.32%. This pattern indicates strong long-term growth that has recently experienced some short-term volatility. The divergence between the one-day drop and the multi-year gains highlights the fund's sensitivity to immediate market shifts versus sustained sector trends.

The fund carries a Moderate volatility label and a beta of 0.69, suggesting it moves less than the broader market. A Sharpe ratio of 2.36 indicates that the returns generated have been efficient relative to the risk taken over the measured period. However, the maximum drawdown of -24.85% reveals the potential for significant temporary losses during market downturns. This combination of a low beta and high Sharpe ratio implies the fund has historically provided steady returns with less systematic risk than the average equity. The moderate volatility classification aligns with the observed drawdown, showing that while the fund is less volatile than the market, it still experiences notable corrections. Investors should consider that the high drawdown figure represents the worst-case scenario within the fund's historical data.

AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.

IBB Top Holdings

Holdings as of 2026-03-31 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing.

Market Backdrop

10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.55% (as of 2026-07-07) — The yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds — the standard "risk-free rate" benchmark used to contextualize this fund’s Sharpe ratio and returns.

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): 16.13 (as of 2026-07-07) — A real-time gauge of expected S&P 500 volatility over the next 30 days — useful context for this fund’s own volatility label.

Federal Funds Rate: 3.63% (as of 2026-06-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.

IBB Performance History

How IBB Compares to Other Healthcare ETFs