IYH: ISHARES U.S. HEALTHCARE ETF
Share-split context: A forward split was recorded on Mar 7, 2024 with coefficient 5. A forward split turns each old share into multiple new shares and lowers the quoted price per share proportionally. Proportional ownership is unchanged at the split moment, so the split itself creates neither a gain nor a loss. The price-return figures in this report are already split-adjusted.
What this ETF is trying to do
The iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (ticker: IYH) is designed to give investors exposure to the healthcare industry in the United States. It holds a variety of companies involved in health services, medical products, and other healthcare-related businesses.
What the numbers show
As of October 7, 2026, the current price of this ETF is $71.30. This ETF has a history of share splits. On March 7, 2024, it underwent a forward split with a coefficient of 5. This means that each old share became five new shares, and the quoted per-share price fell proportionally at that time. It is important to understand that this split did not create a gain or a loss for investors; it simply changed the number of shares owned while keeping ownership proportions the same.
To see how the ETF has performed, we can look at two different types of returns:
• Price Return: This measures only the change in the share price. For example, the one-year price return was approximately 17.06%.
• Total Return: This reflects the overall return, which includes both the share-price movement and any distributions (like dividends) provided by the fund. The one-year total return was approximately 18.50%.
Other performance figures include:
• Year-to-Date (YTD): Price return of ~9.52% and total return of ~10.44%.
• Three-Year: Price return of ~30.95% and total return of ~35.77%.
• Five-Year: Total return of ~36.71%.
Income and distribution explanation
This ETF provides cash distributions to investors, which usually happen quarterly (four times a year). The distribution yield is approximately 1.12%. This number tells you how much cash was paid out relative to the price of the ETF. It is important for new investors to know that while these distributions provide income, they do not guarantee that the original investment value will stay the same. A high distribution yield does not automatically mean an investor earned that specific percentage as a total return.
NAV erosion explanation
NAV erosion is a term used to describe when the underlying value of an ETF's assets decreases over time. StockValueFinder uses an erosion-risk score to measure this risk. For IYH, the erosion-risk score is 100, and the label states "No price erosion detected." The severity is rated as "good," and there is no severe erosion-risk flag for this ETF.
Pros
• The ETF has shown positive total returns over one, three, and five-year periods.
• It has a high income rating grade of "A."
• It provides diversification by holding 103 different companies.
Cons
• The portfolio is concentrated in its top holdings; for example, Eli Lilly and Co makes up 14.60% of the fund.
• Past performance does not guarantee that the ETF will perform the same way in the future.
Beginner takeaway
IYH tracks the U.S. healthcare sector. When looking at its data, it is important to distinguish between "price return" (the change in share price) and "total return" (which includes cash distributions). While this ETF has shown steady growth and a good erosion-risk score, investors should remember that distributions are separate from the underlying value of the shares.
Top Holdings
Structured portfolio holdings supplied by the ETF data provider. These figures are not generated by the AI article.
| # | Holding | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ELI LILLY AND CO | LLY | 14.60% |
| 2 | JOHNSON & JOHNSON | JNJ | 10.14% |
| 3 | ABBVIE INC | ABBV | 7.34% |
| 4 | MERCK & CO INC | MRK | 5.83% |
| 5 | UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC | UNH | 5.26% |
| 6 | THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC | TMO | 3.83% |
| 7 | AMGEN INC | AMGN | 3.46% |
| 8 | GILEAD SCIENCES INC | GILD | 2.96% |
| 9 | ABBOTT LABORATORIES | ABT | 2.81% |
| 10 | PFIZER INC | PFE | 2.49% |