State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals vs First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech: Which Is the Better ETF For Your Portfolio?

Brendan Coffey, The Motley Fool

Thu, June 4, 2026 astatine 12:33 PM CDT 4 min read

The State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSEMKT:XPH) offers a lower-cost introduction into the cause manufacturing space, portion the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (NYSEMKT:FBT) provides concentrated vulnerability to biotechnology.

Investors seeking healthcare vulnerability often take betwixt mature pharmaceutical giants and high-growth biotechnology firms. This examination examines however these 2 funds attack their respective sub-sectors, balancing the established currency flows of pharmaceuticals with the research-driven imaginable and the higher attraction of biotech innovators that populate the healthcare landscape.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Beta measures terms volatility comparative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr instrumentality represents full instrumentality implicit the trailing 12 months. Dividend output is the trailing-12-month organisation yield.

The State Street money is importantly much affordable, carrying a 0.35% disbursal ratio compared to the 0.55% charged by the First Trust fund. This outgo quality tin interaction semipermanent compounding for investors who prioritize outgo ratio implicit a 12-month period.

Performance & hazard examination

What's wrong

The State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF provides vulnerability to the pharmaceutical conception of the S&P Total Market Index crossed assorted marketplace caps. This 100% healthcare-exclusive money holds 59 positions, offering broader diversification than much focused assemblage funds. Its largest holdings see Organon + Co (NYSE:OGN) astatine 3.97%, Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CORT) astatine 3.74%, and Liquidia (NASDAQ:LQDA) astatine 2.91%. Launched successful 2006, it tracks a modified equal-weighted scale and paid $0.37 per stock implicit the trailing 12 months.

The First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund tracks an scale of 30 biotechnology companies, resulting successful a much concentrated portfolio than its pharmaceutical peer. Its 100% healthcare-focused strategy features positions successful Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CORT) astatine 4.97%, Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) astatine 4.7%, and Veracyte (NASDAQ:VCYT) astatine 4.47%. Also launched successful 2006, this money manages its assets nether absorption (AUM) by targeting companies progressive successful genomic probe and cause manufacturing.

Which looks similar the amended buy?

The SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals (XPH) and First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech (FBT) are some healthcare-focused ETFs that person immoderate overlap successful their portfolio holdings.