XLV — State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF

Overview

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is a healthcare sector fund managed by State Street Investment Management. With assets under management totaling $40.6 billion and a current price of $162.30, the fund demonstrates significant investor adoption within its category. It holds an overall rank of #46 out of 120 tracked ETFs across all categories and has received an ETFValuer grade of B with a score of 68.0 out of 100. The fund offers a low-cost structure with an expense ratio of 0.08% and provides income to shareholders through a dividend yield of 1.10%. While it is one of three ETFs tracked in the Healthcare category, its substantial asset base suggests it is a primary vehicle for exposure to this sector. The combination of high assets and a moderate expense ratio positions XLV as a widely utilized option for investors seeking healthcare sector participation.

Over the last trading day, the fund recorded a decline of 1.30%, followed by a weekly gain of 2.29% and a monthly return of 6.54%. The three-month performance accelerated further to an 11.22% gain, while the six-month return moderated to 5.58%. Year-to-date returns stand at 5.26%, contrasting with a robust one-year return of 22.90%. The longer-term trajectory shows continued strength with a three-year return of 31.53%. This pattern indicates a divergence where short-term fluctuations have been overshadowed by strong annual and multi-year growth. The fund's recent one-year performance of 22.90% compares to peer VHT at 25.95% and IBB at 53.64% over the same period.

XLV carries a moderate volatility label and exhibits a beta of 0.51, suggesting its price movements are less sensitive to broader market fluctuations. The fund has generated a Sharpe ratio of 1.14, indicating a favorable risk-adjusted return profile relative to the volatility experienced. Despite this efficiency, the fund has faced a maximum drawdown of -17.11% during its history. This combination of a low beta and moderate volatility implies the fund tends to move less aggressively than the general market in both directions. The Sharpe ratio of 1.14 suggests that the returns generated have historically compensated well for the level of risk taken, even accounting for the significant peak-to-trough decline of -17.11%.

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

XLV 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.

XLV Performance History

How XLV Compares to Other Healthcare ETFs