VHT Performance — Vanguard Health Care Index Fund
Data updated: 2026-07-29
VHT returned −2.44% year to date and +16.74% over one year to May 2026. Annualised returns are +7.50% over 3 years and +4.64% over 5 years. The fund trailed its Health Care Equity category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $124, against $131 for the category, and to $117 over one year, against $129. Volatility over the past three years was 13.85% a year. In the 12 months to May 2026 the fund lost a net $923.8M, and assets reached $18.99B.
VHT Growth of $100
What $100 invested in Vanguard Health Care Index Fund grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Health Care Equity category average over the same months.
| Period | VHT | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Jun 2025 – May 2026) | $117 | $129 |
| 3 years (Jun 2023 – May 2026) | $124 | $131 |
| 5 years (Jun 2021 – May 2026) | $125 | $116 |
| Since data start (Sep 2019 – May 2026) | $182 | $173 |
VHT Trailing Returns
Total returns to May 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | −2.44% |
| 1 year | +16.74% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +7.50% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +4.64% |
VHT Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of Vanguard Health Care Index Fund, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–May) | −2.44% |
| 2025 | +15.44% |
| 2024 | +2.65% |
| 2023 | +2.47% |
| 2022 | −5.52% |
| 2021 | +20.50% |
| 2020 | +18.21% |
| 2019 (Sep–Dec) | +13.86% |
VHT Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | −0.2% | +2.9% | −7.5% | 0.0% | +2.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +6.8% | +0.4% | −2.3% | −3.3% | −4.8% | +2.3% | −2.8% | +5.6% | +2.3% | +4.1% | +9.0% | −1.7% |
| 2024 | +2.4% | +3.5% | +2.2% | −5.4% | +2.3% | +1.9% | +3.2% | +4.9% | −1.7% | −4.4% | +0.8% | −6.4% |
| 2023 | −0.8% | −4.5% | +1.8% | +3.0% | −4.0% | +4.3% | +0.9% | −1.2% | −3.5% | −3.9% | +5.7% | +5.4% |
| 2022 | −7.9% | −0.9% | +5.0% | −5.9% | +0.9% | −2.3% | +4.0% | −5.4% | −3.2% | +8.8% | +4.7% | −2.1% |
| 2021 | +2.3% | −1.8% | +1.9% | +4.2% | +0.8% | +3.4% | +3.7% | +2.4% | −5.4% | +4.4% | −3.9% | +7.6% |
| 2020 | −2.6% | −6.2% | −5.0% | +13.4% | +4.3% | −1.5% | +5.1% | +2.4% | −1.4% | −2.8% | +8.8% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | −0.9% | +4.8% | +6.1% | +3.3% |
VHT Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Jun 2023 – May 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 13.85%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.22 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +8.99% (Nov 2025)
- Worst month: −7.47% (Mar 2026)
VHT Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of Vanguard Health Care Index Fund, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: −$923.8M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $1.7B
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 0.65×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $82.9M | $102.2M | −$19.3M |
| Apr 2026 | $76.9M | $146.7M | −$69.8M |
| Mar 2026 | $55.1M | $153.2M | −$98.1M |
| Feb 2026 | $57.6M | $181.0M | −$123.4M |
| Jan 2026 | $105.6M | $142.2M | −$36.6M |
| Dec 2025 | $235.8M | $248.3M | −$12.4M |
| Nov 2025 | $297.4M | $185.4M | $111.9M |
| Oct 2025 | $362.7M | $168.4M | $194.4M |
| Sep 2025 | $112.1M | $326.7M | −$214.7M |
| Aug 2025 | $109.3M | $492.8M | −$383.5M |
| Jul 2025 | $21.9M | $248.0M | −$226.1M |
| Jun 2025 | $215.8M | $261.8M | −$46.0M |
VHT Assets Under Management
Net assets of Vanguard Health Care Index Fund by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | $18.99B |
| 2026-02-28 | $20.27B |
| 2025-11-30 | $20.37B |
| 2025-08-31 | $17.57B |
| 2025-05-31 | $17.44B |
| 2025-02-28 | $19.81B |
| 2024-11-30 | $20.56B |
| 2024-08-31 | $22.09B |
| 2024-05-31 | $20.39B |
| 2024-02-29 | $20.83B |
| 2023-11-30 | $18.71B |
| 2023-08-31 | $19.85B |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.