In 2008, VHT declined by 23.49% compared to a 38.49% fall in the S&P 500. However, in the first five months of 2009, VHT saw a decline of only 1.21% only. Johnson & Johnson (12.10%), Pfizer (8.60%), and Abbot Laboratories (5.90%) represent the fund's three largest holdings in order. VHT's annual expense ratio is 0.25%. 

Worst performing 

Health Care Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLV) 

This ETF follows healthcare stocks within the S&P 500. This particular industry sector covers stocks of companies involved in health care equipment and supplies, health care providers and services, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals makers. The healthcare industry accounts for 15.35% of the S&P 500's overall sector weighting, making it the second largest sector within the index just behind technology. With just over $2 billion in assets, XLV is the largest healthcare ETF. 

In 2008, XLV declined by 23.15% compared to a 38.49% fall in the S&P 500. However, in the first five months of 2009, XLV saw a decline of only 2.25% only. Johnson & Johnson (14%), Pfizer (10.36%), and Abbot Laboratories (5.77%) represent the fund's three largest holdings in order. XLV's annual expense ratio is currently 0.23%, but there's good news for ETF investors. XLV's annual expenses are being cut to 0.21% beginning 1/31/09. 

iShares S&P Global Healthcare Index Fund (NYSEArca: IXJ) 

iShares S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index Fund (the Fund) is a subset of the Standard & Poor’s Global 1200 Index, and measures the performance of companies that Standard & Poor’s deems to be a part of the healthcare sector. Component companies include healthcare providers, biotechnology companies, and manufacturers of medical supplies, advanced medical devices and pharmaceuticals. 

In 2008, IXJ declined by 21.9% (Net asset value decline) compared to a 38% fall in the S&P 500 (AMEX: SPY) and a 33.8% decline in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (AMEX: DIA). However, in the first five months of 2009, IXJ saw a decline of only 3.8% only. 

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) with 8.65%, Novartis (NYSE: NVS), and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) with 5.81% represent the fund's three largest holdings in order. IYH's annual expense ratio is currently 0.48%. 

PowerShares Dynamic Healthcare Sector Portfolio (NYSEArca: PTH) 

This PowerShares Healthcare ETF is more of a portfolio strategy than a market index based strategy. Put another way, PTH isn't just attempting to match the performance of major healthcare equity benchmarks, it's trying to outperform them. Stocks within this ETF are selected using a secretive quantitative formula that screen for factors like fundamental growth and valuation. 

In 2008, PTH declined by 34.89% compared to a 38.49% fall in the S&P 500. However, in the first five months of 2009, PTH saw a decline of only 5.21% only. Each one of the 60 stocks within PTH receives a modified equal weighting and the underlying index is rebalanced every quarter. PTH's annual expense ratio is 0.70%.