The VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) gives investors a concentrated way to own major drugmakers, while the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) spreads exposure across the wider healthcare sector. The choice comes down to whether to lean into pharma-driven returns or take a…
iShares Global Healthcare ETF(IXJ · ETF)
ETF quote, holdings, sector allocation, technicals, and options analytics.
Market data may be delayed, incomplete, or inaccurate. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Verify quotes with your broker before trading. See Terms §17.
IXJ
$99.29
—
Snapshot
$99.29
- 52-Week Range
- $82.16 – $102.20
- YTD
- +1.60%
- IV Rank (30D)
- 18.6
- Straddle Price
- $3.98
Info
iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) ETF
- Exchange
- ARCX
- Inception
- 2001-11-13
- Has Options
- Yes
ETF Profile
holdings as of 2026-07-22
Holdings
127
AUM
$4.0B
Provider
iShares (BlackRock)
Inception
2001-11-13
Exchange
ARCX
Data As Of
2026-07-22
Expense Ratio
—
Dividend Yield
1.45%
Distribution
Semi-Annual
Recent distributions
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-15 | 2026-06-18 | $0.8461 | CD |
| 2025-12-16 | 2025-12-19 | $0.5976 | CD |
| 2025-06-16 | 2025-06-20 | $0.7628 | CD |
| 2024-12-17 | 2024-12-20 | $0.6173 | CD |
| 2024-06-11 | 2024-06-17 | $0.6723 | CD |
| 2023-12-20 | 2023-12-27 | $0.5562 | CD |
Asset Allocation
Top Holdings
top 50 of 127 holdings
| Symbol | Name | Weight % | Asset Class | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLY | ELI LILLY | 10.63% | Equity (US) | United States |
| JNJ | JOHNSON & JOHNSON | 7.11% | Equity (US) | United States |
| ABBV | ABBVIE INC | 5.17% | Equity (US) | United States |
| UNH | UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC | 4.58% | Equity (US) | United States |
| MRK | MERCK & CO INC | 4.10% | Equity (US) | United States |
| ROP | ROCHE PS PAR AG | 3.74% | Equity (Foreign) | Switzerland |
| NOVN | NOVARTIS AG | 3.67% | Equity (Foreign) | Switzerland |
| AZN | ASTRAZENECA PLC | 3.43% | Equity (Foreign) | United Kingdom |
| AMGN | AMGEN INC | 2.57% | Equity (US) | United States |
| TMO | THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC | 2.55% | Equity (US) | United States |
| ABT | ABBOTT LABORATORIES | 2.28% | Equity (US) | United States |
| GILD | GILEAD SCIENCES INC | 2.11% | Equity (US) | United States |
| — | NOVO NORDISK CLASS B | 2.02% | Equity (Foreign) | Denmark |
| PFE | PFIZER INC | 1.84% | Equity (US) | United States |
| CVS | CVS HEALTH CORP | 1.80% | Equity (US) | United States |
| BMY | BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB | 1.62% | Equity (US) | United States |
| ISRG | INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC | 1.57% | Equity (US) | United States |
| VRTX | VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC | 1.56% | Equity (US) | United States |
| DHR | DANAHER CORP | 1.47% | Equity (US) | United States |
| SYK | STRYKER CORP | 1.39% | Equity (US) | United States |
| MDT | MEDTRONIC PLC | 1.37% | Equity (US) | United States |
| GSK | GLAXOSMITHKLINE | 1.35% | Equity (Foreign) | United Kingdom |
| MCK | MCKESSON CORP | 1.27% | Equity (US) | United States |
| SAN | SANOFI SA | 1.22% | Equity (Foreign) | France |
| ELV | ELEVANCE HEALTH INC | 1.10% | Equity (US) | United States |
| CI | CIGNA | 0.98% | Equity (US) | United States |
| REGN | REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS INC | 0.85% | Equity (US) | United States |
| BSX | BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP | 0.83% | Equity (US) | United States |
| COR | CENCORA INC | 0.76% | Equity (US) | United States |
| HCA | HCA HEALTHCARE INC | 0.75% | Equity (US) | United States |
| EL | ESSILORLUXOTTICA SA | 0.71% | Equity (Foreign) | France |
| — | TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL LTD | 0.71% | Equity (Foreign) | Japan |
| ARGX | ARGENX | 0.70% | Equity (Foreign) | Belgium |
| BAYN | BAYER AG | 0.68% | Equity (Foreign) | Germany |
| CAH | CARDINAL HEALTH INC | 0.67% | Equity (US) | United States |
| — | HOYA CORP | 0.67% | Equity (Foreign) | Japan |
| EW | EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP | 0.63% | Equity (US) | United States |
| HUM | HUMANA INC | 0.62% | Equity (US) | United States |
| LONN | LONZA GROUP AG | 0.60% | Equity (Foreign) | Switzerland |
| HLN | HALEON PLC | 0.56% | Equity (Foreign) | United Kingdom |
| IDXX | IDEXX LABORATORIES INC | 0.56% | Equity (US) | United States |
| BDX | BECTON DICKINSON | 0.55% | Equity (US) | United States |
| CSL | CSL LTD | 0.52% | Equity (Foreign) | Australia |
| GALD | GALDERMA GROUP N AG | 0.51% | Equity (Foreign) | Switzerland |
| A | AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC | 0.49% | Equity (US) | United States |
| WAT | WATERS CORP | 0.47% | Equity (US) | United States |
| — | OTSUKA HOLDINGS LTD | 0.45% | Equity (Foreign) | Japan |
| SDZ | SANDOZ GROUP AG | 0.45% | Equity (Foreign) | Switzerland |
| ALC | ALCON AG | 0.44% | Equity (Foreign) | Switzerland |
| UCB | UCB SA | 0.43% | Equity (Foreign) | Belgium |
Geographic Breakdown
Chart
Seasonality
| Month | Avg Return | Years of Data |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | +0.31% | 23 |
| Feb | -0.34% | 23 |
| Mar | +0.53% | 23 |
| Apr | +1.46% | 23 |
| May | +0.34% | 23 |
| Jun | +0.05% | 23 |
| Jul | +1.83% | 23 |
| Aug | +0.19% | 22 |
| Sep | -0.38% | 22 |
| Oct | -0.25% | 22 |
| Nov | +2.00% | 22 |
| Dec | +0.20% | 22 |
Technical Indicators
Quick-reference for reading the values below. Indicators combine to confirm a view — no single one is a trade signal on its own.
Trend Indicators
- SMA 20 / 50 / 200 — price above = uptrend, below = downtrend. SMA 50 crossing SMA 200 is the golden/death cross.
- EMA 12 / 26 — faster-reacting averages; 12 above 26 is short-term bullish.
- MACD — bullish when MACD > signal (green badge), bearish when below. Divergence from price often precedes reversals.
- ADX (14) — trend strength regardless of direction. <20 range, 20–25 weak trend, 25–50 trend, >50 strong trend.
- +DI / −DI — +DI > −DI favors bulls; the reverse favors bears. Read alongside ADX.
Momentum Oscillators
- RSI (14) — <30 oversold, >70 overbought. 40–60 is neutral; trending names can stay extreme.
- Stochastic %K / %D — <20 oversold, >80 overbought. %K crossing %D is an early momentum signal.
- Williams %R — inverted scale: <−80 oversold, >−20 overbought.
Oscillators work best in range-bound markets; in strong trends they give premature reversal signals.
Volume & Volatility
- Bollinger Bands — price at upper band = overbought, lower = oversold. Narrow bands (squeeze) often precede expansion.
- OBV — cumulative volume; rising OBV confirms uptrend, falling OBV confirms downtrend. Divergence from price is a warning.
- Vol SMA 20 / Vol ROC — today's volume vs. 20-day average. Positive ROC with price move = conviction.
- ATR / True Range — average daily $ move; sizing and stop-loss reference.
- HV 20 / 30 / 60 — realized (historical) volatility. Compare to IV on the options cards: IV > HV = rich premium.
Confluence matters: trend + momentum + volume agreeing carries far more weight than any single indicator. For how these feed the spread scanner score, see the algorithm docs →
Trend Indicators
SMA 20: $99.16
SMA 50: $96.14
SMA 200: $95.88
Current: $99.29
EMA 12: $98.78
EMA 26: $98.05
MACD: 0.7336 | Signal: -0.2475
BULLISH
ADX (14): 13.29
RANGE
+DI: 26.94
−DI: 24.68
Momentum Oscillators
RSI (14): 55.56
NEUTRAL
Stoch %K: 31.96
Stoch %D: 28.96
Williams %R: -57.33
Volume & Volatility
BB Upper: $101.52
BB Lower: $96.80
NEUTRAL
OBV: 3,226,146
Vol SMA 20: 336,744
Vol ROC: 19.30%
ATR: $1.49
True Range: $1.55
HV 20: 19.9%
HV 30: 18.6%
HV 60: 17.3%
Data Summary
Data Points: 500
Last Updated:
Date Range: 2024-07-25T00:00:00 – 2026-07-23T00:00:00
AI Analysis
LLM Stock Analysis Report
Executive Summary
Confidence Level: 7/10 (BULLISH)
Key Drivers: Positive news sentiment, technical momentum signals, low volatility
Primary Risks: Lack of earnings catalysts, potential for short-term consolidation
Investment Thesis: IXJ is a solid long-term investment opportunity with strong technical momentum and positive fundamental drivers. The ETF's low volatility and attractive valuation make it an attractive choice for risk-averse investors.
Recent News Sentiment Impact: Positive news headlines have contributed to the stock's recent uptrend, with sentiment analysis indicating a strong bias towards IXJ.
Technical Analysis
Trend Direction: Medium-term (1-3 months) - Bullish
Support/Resistance Levels:
- SMA 20: $99.16
- Upper Bollinger Band: $101.52
- Recent highs: $103.45, $105.32
Momentum Signals:
- RSI (14): 55.56 (neutral)
- MACD: Bullish signal line crossover above signal line (0.73 / -0.25)
News & Sentiment Analysis
Recent Headlines Summary: Positive articles highlighting IXJ's outperformance and healthcare sector trends.
Sentiment Assessment: Aggregate sentiment is POSITIVE, indicating a strong bias towards the ETF.
Catalyst Identification: Earnings season, healthcare regulatory changes, product launches
Market Narrative: The positive news headlines align with the technical momentum signals, supporting the bullish trend direction.
Risk & Volatility Assessment
Beta Interpretation: Low risk relative to market (beta 0.38)
Volatility Regime: Current volatility is low compared to historical levels (HV20: 19.9%)
Options Market Signals:
- IV Rank: 18.6% (Low)
- Put/Call Volume Ratio: 0.00 (Neutral sentiment)
Market Context & Positioning
Sector Performance: Healthcare sector has been strong, with IXJ outperforming peers.
Institutional Activity: Institutional interest is increasing, as indicated by rising volume and open interest in options contracts.
Correlation Analysis: IXJ moves relatively strongly with the healthcare sector (R-squared interpretation)
Relative Valuation: The ETF's price-to-book ratio is attractive compared to historical averages.
Key Levels & Action Items
- Critical Price Levels: SMA 20, Upper Bollinger Band
- Breakout/Breakdown Levels: Recent highs ($103.45, $105.32)
- Time-Sensitive Catalysts: Earnings season, healthcare regulatory changes
- Risk Management: Monitor IV rank and put/call volume ratios to identify potential changes in market sentiment.
By analyzing the data, it appears that IXJ is a solid long-term investment opportunity with strong technical momentum and positive fundamental drivers. The ETF's low volatility and attractive valuation make it an attractive choice for risk-averse investors. However, lack of earnings catalysts and potential short-term consolidation are key risks to monitor.
Generated
News
Compare global reach to domestic focus as these two funds reveal key differences in cost, risk, and portfolio makeup for healthcare investors.
Options Activity
- IV Rank (30D)
- 18.6
- IV Rank (7D)
- 18.6
- Avg IV
- 20.1%
- Straddle (30D)
- $3.98
- Straddle (7D)
- $3.98
Spread Scanner GPU
Each spread is ranked by a composite score built in three stages. Full documentation →
Stage 1 — Base Score (GPU scanner)
score = P(profit) × (credit / spread_width)
P(profit) from short leg delta (1 − |delta|), penalised above 85%. Credit uses mid-price to handle illiquid chains fairly.
Stage 2 — Skew Adjustment (±25% cap)
RR and BF (30-delta) from the persisted per-symbol skew snapshot — wing strikes picked by real greeks.delta, not a moneyness proxy. Put skew boosts bull puts, penalises bear calls. High butterfly boosts iron condors. Calendars are skew-neutral.
Stage 3 — Technical Overlay (±50% cap, 5 groups)
Group 1 · Directional Bias (±0.25)
- RSI <40 bullish / >60 bearish
- MACD crossover + histogram trend
- Price vs SMA 50 & SMA 200
Group 2 · Momentum (±0.10)
- Stochastic %K <20 / >80
- Williams %R <−80 / >−20
Group 3 · Volatility (up to −0.25 / +0.15)
- Blended ATR + straddle expected-move penalty
- Bollinger Band signal (+ counter-trend penalty)
- BB width — vol contraction boost for ICs
Group 4 · IV Regime (±0.15)
- IV rank ≥ 75 → strong boost for credit spreads
- IV rank < 25 → penalty (selling cheap vol)
Group 5 · Liquidity (penalty up to −0.10)
- Min open interest across all legs
- OI < 100 → −0.10 · OI < 500 → −0.05
score = base_score × skew_multiplier × tech_multiplier
Both multipliers are shown per spread. Beta is informational only — ATR already captures realized vol. Full algorithm documentation →
Enter a ticker to scan for optimal spread opportunities.
Evaluates all bull put, bear call, iron condor, and calendar spread combinations using GPU-accelerated analysis.
Skew (Wing IV − ATM IV)
DTE:
Wing Δ:
Wing vs ATM
IV(put wing) − IV(ATM), in vol pointsHow much the OTM put trades above (or below) the at-the-money strike. Measures the height of the put-side tail relative to ATM — i.e. how expensive crash insurance is on this name.
- Positive (typical) — wing IV > ATM IV. Standard equity put skew: portfolios bid up crash protection, so OTM puts trade richer than ATM.
- Near zero or negative (unusual) — wing IV ≤ ATM IV. Flat or inverted put side. Common when there's no fear demand, in tightly mean-reverting names, or right after an earnings catalyst clears.
- Percentile vs own 3-yr history: high = wings rich (good time to sell wing premium); low = wings cheap (good time to buy protection).
- Not directional — high or low wings don't predict up or down moves. It's a price tag on tail insurance, not a forecast.
Risk Reversal
IV(call wing) − IV(put wing), equal delta on each sideWhich side of the smile is the market paying up for? Measures the tilt of the surface — call skew vs put skew at matched deltas.
- Negative (typical) — puts richer than calls. Standard equity behavior: hedging demand makes puts carry a premium. Most large-caps sit in the −1 to −5 vol-point range.
- Strongly negative (< −5 pts) — heavy downside hedging, elevated fear, or an upcoming catalyst (earnings, FDA, macro event). Worth flagging.
- Positive — calls richer than puts. Unusual for equities; signals bullish momentum, short-squeeze positioning, or takeover/M&A speculation.
- Near zero — symmetric surface. Market sees roughly equal up/down risk. Rare for large-caps; more common in commodities and FX.
Reading them together
Wing-vs-ATM tells you how expensive the tails are. Risk Reversal tells you which side is favored. Combined:
- High wing percentile + deeply negative RR → strong put bid; stress or major event priced in. Owning protection costs a premium; selling put premium is dangerous.
- Low wing percentile + near-zero RR → complacency; insurance cheap and balanced. Good environment to add cheap downside hedges.
- Positive RR + elevated wings → call-side fear-of-missing-out; common in squeeze setups. Upside calls expensive, downside puts not bid.
14 DTE / 10d
—
—
pts
EXTREME
ATM — / Wing —
30 DTE / 10d
—
—
pts
EXTREME
ATM — / Wing —
Extreme reading.
Historically these have been contrarian — on the small set of observed earnings-day cases, large negative wing-vs-ATM gaps (calls pricing much richer than puts at the same delta) preceded sharp drops in the underlying within 1-12 days. Not financial advice and the dataset is small.
Percentile is the rank of today's reading within ~3 years of this symbol's own history. High percentile = wings are rich relative to history; not a directional signal. Skew is read off the chain in real time, not from CBOE SKEW.
Volatility Surface
Enter a ticker to render the implied volatility surface.
Volatility Smile
Enter a ticker to render the implied volatility smile.
IV Rank (7 DTE)
IV Rank (30 DTE)
Straddle Price (30 DTE)
Beta Analysis
- Beta (1Y vs SPY)
- 0.38
- Correlation (SPY)
- 31.2%
- R²
- 0.10
- Ann. Volatility
- 15.3%
- SPY Volatility
- 12.7%
Low volatility - stock moves less than market
Beta & Alpha Over Time
Constituent Performance
Click any bar to view the full quote for that stock.
Constituents
| Symbol | Name | Weight % | Price | 1 Day | 1 Week | 1 Month |
|---|