Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
IBB vs VOX: how they differ
IBB and VOX hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and IBB returned more over the year.
iShares Biotechnology ETF and Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, IBB and VOX hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in IBB | Only in VOX |
|---|---|
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 8.09% | Meta Platforms Inc 21.12% |
| Amgen, Inc. 7.84% | Alphabet Inc 16.14% |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc. 6.85% | Alphabet Inc 10.61% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4.91% | Netflix Inc 4.77% |
| Argenx SE 3.76% | Verizon Communications Inc 4.17% |
| Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3.12% | Walt Disney Co/The 3.96% |
| Natera, Inc. 2.89% | AT&T Inc 3.69% |
| Revolution Medicines, Inc. 2.78% | Warner Bros Discovery Inc 2.74% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Jun 30, 2026 and May 31, 2026.
| IBB iShares Biotechnology ETF | VOX Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | Vanguard |
| What it is | Biotechnology | Communication Services |
| Total return, 1 year | +41.5% | +2.9% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +24.0 pts | −14.6 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.44% | 0.09% |
| Already in the S&P 500 | 35.6% | 84.5% |
| Holdings | 248 | 114 |
IBB in plain words
IBB is an index equity fund tracking the Biotechnology. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +41.5% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.44% a year. By its holdings filed for Jun 30, 2026, 36% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 248 positions, with the top ten at 44.8%. It sat 6.5% below its high of Aug 19, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
VOX in plain words
VOX is an index equity fund tracking the Communication Services. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +2.9% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.09% a year. By its holdings filed for May 31, 2026, 84% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 114 positions, with the top ten at 72.1%. It sat 4.3% below its high of Jan 29, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, IBB or VOX?
- In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IBB returned +41.5% and VOX returned +2.9%, so IBB returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, IBB or VOX?
- IBB charges 0.44% a year and VOX charges 0.09%, so VOX is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- How much do IBB and VOX overlap with the S&P 500?
- By their latest filed holdings, 36% of IBB and 84% of VOX by weight is stocks the S&P 500 already holds. Between the two funds, 0% of their books are the same securities at the same weight.
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, IBB against VOX, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/IBB-VOX Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources