6 Best Biotech ETFs for 2022

This article identifies the six best biotech ETFs on the market. 

Best Biotech ETFs: Background

Biotechnology, or “Biotech,” is a broad category of biology that uses living systems and organisms to develop or make products.

Biotech companies can operate in vastly different sectors, from agriculture to gene therapy, but the aim of most biotech companies is to create breakthrough drugs.

The biotech industry is poised to be one of the biggest winners of the next decade.

Here are the six best biotech ETFs:

• ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG)
• iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB) 
• SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI)
• First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index (FBT)
• VanEck Vectors Biotech ETF (BBH)
• Global X Genomics & Biotechnology ETF (GNOM)

Next, we’ll cover each of these individually to see how they differentiate from one another. 

Best Biotech ETFs

#1. ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG)

• Performance over 1-Year: -58%
• Expense Ratio: 0.75%
• Assets Under Management: $2.7 billion

The ARK Genomic Revolution ETF is one of six active ARK ETFs offered by Cathie Wood’s investment firm. 

The fund invests in companies that are expected to substantially benefit from extending and enhancing human life quality via advancements made in genomic technology.

Investing in ARKG will get you exposure to innovative companies developing gene therapy bioinformatics (data), bio-inspired computing, molecular medicine, and pharmaceutical innovations.

ARK believes that the “genomic age” could create trillions of dollars in equity market capitalization by 2024 and that the convergence of next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS), artificial intelligence, and gene-editing could cure disease entirely.

ARKG Top Holdings:

• Exact Sciences (EXAS) 9.04%
• Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) 8.25%
• Teladoc Health Inc (TDOC) 5.44%
• Fate Therapeutics (FATE)  4.61%
• Signify Health (SGFY) 4.19%

#2. iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB)

• Performance over 1-Year: -21%
• Expense Ratio: 0.45%
• Assets Under Management: $7.7 billion

iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of biotechnology and pharmaceutical equities listed on the NASDAQ.

It is a market-cap-weighted index, meaning that larger companies account for a greater portion of the fund than smaller stocks.

While the biotech industry is extremely volatile, IBB consists of the largest and most established biotech companies on the market, which tend to be less volatile relative to smaller ones in the sector.

IBB invests in many of the industry-leading companies that ARKG is trying to disrupt.

IBB consists of stable biotechs that have built the capital to fend off such attacks and drive innovation in their own respects.

IBB Top Holdings

• Amgen (AMGN) 8.68%
• Gilead Sciences (GILD) 7.65%
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) 6.94%
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 6.90%
• Moderna (MRNA) 5.16%

#3. SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI)

• Performance over 1-Year: -42%
• Expense Ratio: 0.35%
• Assets Under Management: $6.0 billion

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index.

This modified equal-weighted index provides exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks in the biotech ecosystem.

XBI’s equal weight structure gives investors “unconcentrated exposure” to 159 biotech companies.

This includes the smaller, more risky drug manufacturers who can see their share price rise or fall dramatically depending on approvals (or rejections) from the FDA.

XBI Top Holdings

• Iovance Biotherapeutics (IOVA) 1.24%
• Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) 1.20%
• Alkermes (ALKS) 1.20%
• Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) 1.19%
• Turning Point Therapeutics (TPTX) 1.19%

#4. First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index (FBT)

• Performance over 1-Year: -13%
• Expense Ratio: 0.55%
• Assets Under Management: $1.4 billion

First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index ETF offers exposure to 30 companies capable of rapid price increase in the event of major drug approvals.

Like XBI, this ETF is equally weighted to accommodate the hit-or-miss nature of smaller biotech companies.

Risk-seeking investors bullish on biotech long-term might find this ETF attractive but may find better risk-to-reward ratios backing individual companies seeking drug approvals.

For every winner in niche corners of Biotech, there are countless more losers.

FBT Top Holdings

• Grifols (GRFS) 3.82%
• Mettler-Toledo International (MTD) 3.74%
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN) 3.65%
• Gilead Sciences (GILD) 3.61%
• QIAGEN (QGEN) 3.59%

#5. VanEck Vectors Biotech ETF (BBH)

• Performance over 1-Year: -18%
• Expense Ratio: 0.35%
• Assets Under Management: $458 million

VanEck Vectors Biotech ETF invests in 25 companies involved in developing, producing, marketing, and selling drugs based on genetic analysis and diagnostic equipment.

BBH consists of the most liquid companies in the industry based on market cap and trading volume, in addition to favoring the largest given the fund’s market-cap-weighted methodology.

This ETF is like the aforementioned iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) because it also invests in the space’s biggest names.

Investors can expect less volatility when choosing the VanEck Vectors Biotech ETF relative to other funds in this article.

BBH Top Holdings

• Amgen (AMGN) 13.56%
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 7.58%
• Gilead Sciences (GILD) 7.28%
• Moderna (MRNA) 7.04%
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) 6.78%

#6. Global X Genomics & Biotechnology ETF (GNOM)

• Performance over 1-Year: -40%
• Expense Ratio: 0.50%
• Assets Under Management: $141 million

Global X Genomics & Biotechnology invests in companies that stand to benefit from further advancements in the field of genomic sciences, such as companies involved in gene editing, genomic sequencing, genetic medicine/therapy, computational genomics, and biotechnology.

GNOM is a high-growth ETF that provides access to emerging areas within the healthcare sector at the intersection of science and technology.

We think of GNOM as “ARKG-adjacent” because it has a similar approach to betting on innovation within the biotech space and holds many of the same companies.

GNOM Top Holdings

• BioMarin Pharmaceuticals (BMRN) 7.83%
• Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) 6.24%
• QIAGEN NV (QGEN) 5.80%
• Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE) 5.76%
• Agilent Technologies (A) 5.41%

Alternatives to the Best Biotech ETFs

Investing in biotechnology can be difficult because there are so many unknown variables to consider.

Fortunately, several alternative investment options achieve some level of exposure to the biotech space.

For example, Amazon (AMZN) has quietly entered the healthcare industry over the past two years. In 2019, the company launched Amazon Care, which serves as a medical service and benefit for employees.

The king of e-commerce has been buying and deploying capital to healthcare and biotech companies alike. Here are some of its notable investments and acquisitions:

• Grail (genomics)
• PillPack (an online pharmacy)
• Health Navigator (digital healthcare startup)
• Juno Therapeutics (cancer medicine)

Alexa herself is jumping into healthcare after becoming HIPAA-compliant, allowing users to transmit protected health information securely through Amazon’s virtual assistant.

We realize that Amazon is not a biotech company, but there was a time when it wasn’t a cloud stock, grocery store, or Hollywood studio.

The Risks when Investing in Biotech 

As previously mentioned, the biotech industry is extremely volatile and unpredictable.

While there may be massive potential upside in some names, it is often difficult to separate the winners from the losers.

That is why we recommend investing in a biotech ETF if you are interested in the space.

A biotech ETF will provide you with the narrow exposure to secure gains in the industry while maintaining diversification.

Best Biotech ETFs: FAQs

What is the best AI ETF?

Most technology companies stand to benefit from the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), so investors should consider technology ETFs like Invesco QQQ, Vanguard Information Technology (VGT), or Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK). Many consider FAAMG to be the best AI stocks. 

Investors looking for more of a pure-play AI investment may also consider Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (BOTZ) and Ark Industrial Innovation ETF (ARKQ).

What are the best ETFs to invest in for 2021?

We recommend investors choose diversified ETFs that “own the market,” like the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF.

ETFs like VOO own companies in all eleven sectors and provide investors with diversification to lock in long-term returns.

The Invesco QQQ ETF is another fund to consider. It invests in the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 Index. 

About 44% of the fund is allocated to FAAMG stocks, so there is less diversification here but potentially more upside.

Is QQQ the best ETF?

QQQ is the 5th largest ETF by assets under Management and considered one of the best ETFs on the market.

It tracks some of the world’s best technology companies and has delivered phenomenal returns over the past decade.

What are the best biotech mutual funds?

While we recommend ETFs instead of mutual funds because they’re lower cost and more robust, some may still be interested in the best biotech mutual funds:

• Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio (FBIOX)
• T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund (PRHSX)
• Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology Fund – Class A (FBTAX)
• Janus Henderson Global Life Sciences A (JFNAX)
• Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund (FBDIX)

Bottom Line: Best Biotech ETFs

Biotechnology is such an exciting industry to explore, and the possibilities are truly endless. The astonishing breakthroughs of the last decade suggest we’re still very early to the game.

While we’ve expressed the risks, there are plenty of great Biotech ETFs to choose in 2022.

This article is for informational purposes only, and it is not intended to be investment advice. Read our editorial guidelines and public equities research methodology to learn more about how we selected the best biotech ETFs. This article was updated on May 7th, 2022 to reflect the changes in performance and characteristics of each fund.