ETF Evaluator:
iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB)
Follow This ETF
(as of Jul 31)
Best Performing in Health Over the Last Year
| 177.8% | Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trls ETF (BBC) |
| 114.6% | ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO) |
| 91.7% | State Street® SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF (XBI) |
| 83.9% | F/m Emerald Life Sciences Innovation ETF (LFSC) |
| 79.5% | iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) |
Risk
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Risk
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ETF Details
iShares Biotechnology ETF Overview
iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) is a passively managed Sector Equity Health exchange-traded fund (ETF). iShares launched the ETF in 2001.
The investment seeks to track the investment results of the NYSE Biotechnology Index composed of U.S.-listed equities in the biotechnology sector.
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in 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. It is non-diversified.
About iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 4.42 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 1 primary benchmark: NYSE Biotechnology TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. iShares Biotechnology ETF has 253 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 44.7% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
iShares Biotechnology ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity ETF group. iShares Biotechnology ETF has 5.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 94.4% There is 5.5% 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 Biotechnology ETF has 0.1% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $9 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.
IBB 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 Biotechnology ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Health category. iShares Biotechnology ETF has an expense ratio of 0.44%, which is 15% 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 Biotechnology ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 18%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.1 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 40% for the Health category.
Recently, in the month of June 2026, iShares Biotechnology ETF returned 10.3%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Health category had an average return of 8.7%. 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 Biotechnology ETF has a trailing yield of 0.22%, which is below the 1.12% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income quarterly 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 Biotechnology ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 12.7%, 2.6 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of C. The fund has returned 50.6% over the past year (grade of B), 14.7% over the past three years (grade of B) and 3.3% per year over the past five years (grade of C) and 8.5% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
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IBB Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 6/30/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| IBB Return (NAV) | 10.3% | 12.6% | 50.6% | 14.7% | 3.3% | 8.5% |
| IBB Return (Price) | 10.5% | 12.7% | 50.7% | 14.7% | 3.3% | 8.5% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.138% | -0.058% | -0.126% | -0.023% | -0.019% | -0.010% |
| Health Avg | 8.7% | 13.9% | 37.6% | 10.6% | 1.5% | 9.5% |
| IBB Grade (NAV) | B | C | B | B | C | D |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 1.7% | -1.3% | 13.0% | 4.1% | 1.8% | -1.0% |
| IBB Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
IBB Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 6/30/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| IBB Return (NAV) | 12.7% | 28.0% | -2.4% | 3.6% | -13.6% | 1.0% | 25.9% | 24.7% | -9.1% | 21.2% | -21.5% |
| IBB Return (Price) | 12.8% | 28.0% | -2.4% | 3.8% | -13.7% | 1.0% | 26.0% | 25.2% | -9.5% | 21.1% | -21.4% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | 0.005% | -0.002% | 0.002% | 0.039% | 0.007% | -0.040% | 0.004% | 1.9% | 4.3% | -0.6% | -0.5% |
| Health Avg | 10.1% | 21.8% | 0.1% | 2.2% | -16.3% | 4.3% | 30.5% | 25.4% | -1.5% | 26.5% | -10.2% |
| IBB Grade (NAV) | C | B | D | B | C | D | B | B | D | D | F |
| +/- Category | 2.6% | 6.3% | -2.5% | 1.4% | 2.7% | -3.3% | -4.6% | -0.6% | -7.6% | -5.2% | -11.3% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.69 |
| R-Squared: | 24% |
| Standard Deviation: | 17.8% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.89 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.46 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 0.2% |
| Total Assets: | $ 9,088 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 9,088 Mil |
| Turnover: | 18.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.44% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | NYSE Biotechnology TR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Quarterly |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 13.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 4.4 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hsui Jennifer (2012), Sietsema Peter (2025), Waldron Matt (2025), White Steven (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 253 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 44.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 5.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 94.4% |
| Foreign Stock: | 5.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.1% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | iShares |
| Phone Number: | 800-474-2737 |
| Website: | www.ishares.com |
| Inception Date: | February 5, 2001 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.44% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.52% |
