ETF Evaluator:
iShares Global Healthcare ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Health Over the Last Year
| 129.4% | Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trls ETF (BBC) |
| 94.1% | ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO) |
| 88.4% | F/m Emerald Life Sciences Innovation ETF (LFSC) |
| 72.5% | State Street® SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF (XBI) |
| 65.8% | State Street® SPDR® S&P® PhrmctlsETF (XPH) |
Risk
Index
Risk
Index
ETF Details
iShares Global Healthcare ETF Overview
iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) is a passively managed Sector Equity Health exchange-traded fund (ETF). iShares launched the ETF in 2001.
The investment seeks to track the S&P Global 1200 Health Care (Sector) Capped IndexTM.
The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its underlying index and may invest up to 20% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents. The index measures the performance of companies that S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global, Inc., deems to be a part of the healthcare sector of the economy and that SPDJI believes are important to global markets.
About iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 4.50 years: Jennifer Hsui (2012), Peter Sietsema (2025), Matt Waldron (2025) and Steven White (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: S&P Global BMI TR USD index with a weighting of 100% and S&P GBL 1200 Health Care (Sec) Cap USD index with a weighting of 100%. iShares Global Healthcare ETF has 125 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 47.0% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
iShares Global Healthcare ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity ETF group. iShares Global Healthcare ETF has 27.1% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 72.6% There is 27.1% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). iShares Global Healthcare ETF has 0.4% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $4 billion in total assets, which is above the $1 billion average for the Health category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
IXJ Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The iShares Global Healthcare ETF expense ratio is below average compared to funds in the Health category. iShares Global Healthcare ETF has an expense ratio of 0.38%, which is 27% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. iShares Global Healthcare ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 2%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.5 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 45% for the Health category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, iShares Global Healthcare ETF returned 1.9%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Health category had an average return of -0.1%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
iShares Global Healthcare ETF has a trailing yield of 1.44%, which is above the 1.10% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
iShares Global Healthcare ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 3.9%, 5.8 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 22.5% over the past year (grade of D), 6.8% over the past three years (grade of D) and 4.6% per year over the past five years (grade of B) and 8.2% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
For more ETF grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about iShares Global Healthcare ETF, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
IXJ Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| IXJ Return (NAV) | 1.9% | 8.8% | 22.5% | 6.8% | 4.6% | 8.2% |
| IXJ Return (Price) | 1.9% | 8.9% | 22.5% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 8.3% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.012% | -0.059% | -0.055% | -0.031% | 0.017% | -0.022% |
| Health Avg | -0.1% | 11.2% | 36.9% | 9.9% | 1.6% | 8.7% |
| IXJ Grade (NAV) | B | D | D | D | B | D |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 2.0% | -2.4% | -14.4% | -3.1% | 2.9% | -0.5% |
| IXJ Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
IXJ Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| IXJ Return (NAV) | 3.9% | 14.9% | 0.6% | 3.5% | -4.7% | 19.5% | 12.5% | 23.4% | 2.9% | 20.3% | -6.2% |
| IXJ Return (Price) | 3.9% | 15.0% | 0.6% | 3.6% | -4.9% | 19.6% | 12.7% | 23.2% | 2.8% | 20.4% | -6.0% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.014% | 0.010% | -0.072% | 0.041% | 0.051% | 0.005% | 0.022% | -0.6% | -0.7% | 0.5% | -2.5% |
| Health Avg | 9.7% | 21.8% | 0.1% | 2.2% | -16.3% | 4.3% | 30.5% | 25.4% | -1.5% | 26.5% | -10.2% |
| IXJ Grade (NAV) | D | D | C | B | B | B | F | C | B | D | C |
| +/- Category | -5.8% | -6.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 11.6% | 15.2% | -18.0% | -2.0% | 4.3% | -6.1% | 4.0% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.52 |
| R-Squared: | 24% |
| Standard Deviation: | 13.4% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.66 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Low |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.09 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.4% |
| Total Assets: | $ 4,093 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 4,093 Mil |
| Turnover: | 2.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.38% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | S&P Global BMI TR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 14.0 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 4.5 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hsui Jennifer (2012), Sietsema Peter (2025), Waldron Matt (2025), White Steven (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 125 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 47.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 27.1% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 72.6% |
| Foreign Stock: | 27.1% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.4% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | iShares |
| Phone Number: | 800-474-2737 |
| Website: | au.ishares.com |
| Inception Date: | November 13, 2001 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.38% (Rating: Below Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.52% |
