Comparing Thematic Approach of Simplify Healthcare ETF and iShares US Healthcare ETF

TL/DR –

The Simplify Health Care ETF (PINK) and iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH) both provide exposure to the healthcare sector but have significantly different approaches, with PINK focusing on innovative, smaller companies while IYH follows a traditional market-capitalization index. PINK has a higher expense ratio of 0.51% compared to IYH’s 0.38%, but also had higher returns over the past year. PINK is more concentrated with around 58 holdings, while IYH is more diversified with around 100 holdings, including major healthcare companies such as Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson.


Simplify Health Care and iShares U.S. Healthcare ETFs Breakdown

The Simplify Health Care ETF (PINK 0.03%) and the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH 0.71%) offer different approaches to healthcare investments. PINK is an active fund with a philanthropic tilt, targeting innovative healthcare sectors. In contrast, IYH provides broad, passive access to established healthcare giants, mirroring a traditional market-cap-weighted index.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Metric PINK IYH
Issuer Simplify iShares
Expense ratio 0.51% 0.38%
1-yr return (as of June 8, 2026) 29.30% 15.30%
Dividend yield 0.66% 1.28%
Beta 0.74 0.57%
AUM $266.96 million $3.12 billion

The iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF might attract cost-conscious investors due to its lower expense ratio (0.38%) compared to PINK’s 0.51%. These variations in fees and distributions could influence long-term total returns and assets under management (AUM) efficiency.

Performance & risk comparison

Metric PINK IYH
Max drawdown (4 yr) (18.80%) (17.90%)
Growth of $1,000 over 4 years (total return) $1,545 $1,261

What’s inside

The iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH) heavily invests in pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare equipment, managed-care, and life sciences companies. Launched in 2000, it has paid $0.81 per share over the last 12 months, focusing on market-cap-weighted domestic leaders.

On the other hand, the Simplify Health Care ETF (PINK), started in 2021, holds roughly 58 holdings focusing on biotechnology and gene therapy. This fund also stands out for its unique mission-driven quirk – management donates its net profits to breast cancer research.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide here.

What this means for investors

Healthcare ETFs like IYH and PINK offer different investment angles. It’s not just about healthcare exposure, fees, or yield but about choosing between a passive fund reflecting the market’s sector weights and an active strategy based on a manager’s selective healthcare view.

IYH is ideal for investors seeking low-cost, diversified access to established U.S. healthcare firms, while PINK suits those comfortable with a concentrated, actively managed strategy relying on individual holdings and manager expertise.


Read More Health & Wellness News ; US News