BBC vs IBB: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

Virtus Biotech Clinical Trials ETF

BBCDNYSE Arca

iShares Biotechnology ETF

IBBANasdaq

Overlap

11.7%by weight

Expense ratio

IBB −0.21pt a year

BBC0.65%IBB0.44%

Avg volume · 30D

IBB 66.8×the volume

BBC24.7KIBB1.65M

10Y return · a year

IBB +0.6pt

BBC+9.5%IBB+10.1%

BBC vs IBB Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

0.0%BBC+38.1%IBB

Expense ratio: BBC 0.65%; IBB 0.44%, better
Fund size: BBC $35M; IBB $11.5B
1Y total return: BBC +35.6%; IBB +36.8%, better
Yield (12M): BBC 1.52%, better; IBB 0.16%
Holdings: BBC 130; IBB 243
Avg volume (30D): BBC 24.7K sh; IBB 1.65M sh, better
NAV per share: BBC $44.05; IBB $217.59
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for BBC, IBB, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	BBC	IBB
Cost30% weight	F13	B69Higher
Mission25% weight	C45	A83Higher
Risk15% weight	F12	B69Higher
Tradability15% weight	F22	A95Higher
Holdings10% weight	A93Higher	C45
Durability5% weight	C48	A89Higher

Rank among Biotech & Genomics funds

How we build Categories ›

Same Category. BBC and IBB are both graded against the same 17 Biotech & Genomics funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Biotech & Genomics⁠

Category · 17 funds

See all 17 ›

IBB ranks 3rd and BBC 16th of 17 funds in the Biotech & Genomics Category.

Rank 1AXBIState Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETFScore 80
Rank 2AIBBQInvesco Nasdaq Biotechnology ETFScore 77
Rank 3AIBBiShares Biotechnology ETFScore 75
Rank 4ABBPVirtus Biotech ETFScore 74
Rank 15DARKGARK Genomic Revolution ETFScore 33
Rank 16DBBCVirtus Biotech Clinical Trials ETFScore 31
Rank 17DCANCTema Oncology ETFScore 30

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

BBCDVirtus Biotech Clinical Trials ETF

IBBAiShares Biotechnology ETF

In short

BBC Most biotech funds blend approved-drug cash machines with science projects. BBC keeps only the science projects: US-listed biotechs whose lead drug is still in clinical trials, spread across roughly 200 names.

IBB Biotech's original index fund. Since 2001 IBB has packed the whole US biotech sector, roughly 250 names, into one line item for 0.44% a year, below what the typical biotech fund charges.

Stated mandate

BBC The Fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the investment results of the LifeSci Biotechnology Clinical Trials Index. The Index comprises U.S.-listed biotechnology stocks with a lead drug in clinical-stage development.

IBB The Fund seeks to track an index composed of U.S.-listed equities focused on the biotechnology sector.

Why people hold it

BBC A genuinely narrow mandate: the index takes U.S.-listed biotechs with a lead drug in clinical-stage development, so commercial-stage giants stay out.
Roughly 200 holdings, so one failed readout is a dent, not the whole fund.
The basket lines up tightly with what the prospectus says it owns, one of the cleaner mandate-to-portfolio matches in biotech.
Running since 2014, which makes it one of the longer-lived pure clinical-stage plays rather than a recent theme launch.

IBB A 2001 launch makes it one of the sector's originals, and it has grown into a multi-billion-dollar fund that trades actively.
Roughly 250 stocks, so the whole US biotech bench comes along instead of a few marquee drugmakers.
0.44% a year, set by the prospectus and below the median fee in its biotech peer group.
Sticks closely to the job in its prospectus: US-listed biotech equities, nothing exotic bolted on. That lands it in the upper half of its peer group.ishares.com

Worth knowing

BBC At 0.65% a year it costs more than the typical biotech fund, and more than broad peers like XBI (0.35%) and IBB (0.44%).
Small asset base and thin trading, so spreads can widen and large orders move the price.
Pre-approval biotech is binary by nature, and on our review the fund sits in the lower tier of its biotech peer group overall.

IBB Cheaper seats exist in the same aisle: IBBQ at 0.19%, BBP at 0.34%, XBI at 0.35%.
One industry carries the whole fund. Trial readouts, FDA decisions and patent expiries drive it, with no other sector to cushion a rough patch.
Distributions arrive quarterly, but biotech is a growth sector and payouts are a side effect, not the point.

Full BBC profile⁠

Full IBB profile⁠

BBC vs IBB Holdings

How BBC and IBB differ

Overlap by weight

11.7%

Shared holdings make up 70.9% of BBC and 13.2% of IBB.

Level by level

Sector6 Sectors0.0%
Holdings89 in both11.7%
Countryby domicile92.9%
Asset classEquity100%

Sector

Sector weights in BBC and IBB, widest gap first
Sector	More in BBCMore in IBB	BBC	IBB
Health Care	BBC +100.0 points	100.0%	0.0%
Biotechnology	IBB +87.5 points	0.0%	87.5%
Life Sciences Tools & Services	IBB +9.6 points	0.0%	9.6%
Pharmaceuticals	IBB +2.7 points	0.0%	2.7%
Health Care Services	IBB +0.1 points	0.0%	0.1%
Health Care Equipment	IBB +0.1 points	0.0%	0.1%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in BBC and IBB, widest gap first
Country	More in BBCMore in IBB	BBC	IBB
United States	IBB +4.3 points	90.0%	94.3%
Denmark	IBB +2.1 points	0.0%	2.1%
Canada	BBC +1.9 points	2.4%	0.5%
Netherlands	BBC +1.7 points	2.0%	0.3%
Ireland	BBC +1.5 points	1.6%	0.1%
Switzerland	BBC +0.8 points	1.1%	0.3%
United Kingdom	BBC +0.8 points	2.3%	1.5%
Other countries (5)	IBB +0.3 points	0.6%	0.9%

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

BBC16.0%
IBB51.4%

Securities held

BBC129
IBB241

Asset class

BBC: Equity
IBB: Equity

Holdings

Only in BBC40
In both89
Only in IBB152

Only in BBC

40 securities, 29.1% of BBC by weight

First Tracks Biotherapeutics Inc1.94%
SpyGlass Pharma Inc1.34%
Viridian Therapeutics Inc1.15%
VeraDermics Inc1.14%
Vor BioPharma Inc1.10%
LB Pharmaceuticals Inc1.07%
Palvella Therapeutics Inc1.06%
Achieve Life Sciences Inc0.99%
SELLAS Life Sciences Group Inc0.98%
Generate Biomedicines Inc0.97%
Monopar Therapeutics Inc0.91%
Belite Bio Inc0.82%
Damora Therapeutics Inc0.80%
Rezolute Inc0.78%
Dianthus Therapeutics Inc0.76%
Adlai Nortye Group Ltd0.76%
Immunome Inc0.75%
Celldex Therapeutics Inc0.72%
Immix Biopharma Inc0.72%
Viking Therapeutics Inc0.71%
Jade Biosciences Inc0.70%
Assembly Biosciences Inc0.69%
Climb Bio Inc0.68%
ProKidney Corp0.68%
Crescent Biopharma Inc0.60%
Celcuity Inc0.59%
Invivyd Inc0.59%
Immatics NV0.59%
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc0.58%
Aktis Oncology Inc0.58%
Oculis Holding AG0.56%
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics0.51%
Nektar Therapeutics0.50%
Relmada Therapeutics Inc0.39%
Avalo Therapeutics Inc0.38%
Compass Therapeutics Inc0.28%
Evommune Inc0.26%
MapLight Therapeutics Inc0.21%
Capricor Therapeutics Inc0.19%
EyePoint Inc0.02%

Only in IBB

152 securities, 86.7% of IBB by weight

Gilead Sciences8.94%
Amgen Inc8.31%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals7.87%
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals6.24%
Moderna5.49%
Natera3.78%
Argenx SE Adr3.36%
Biogen2.52%
Illumina Inc2.41%
Genmab Sponsored Adr2.14%
Beone Medicines AG2.11%
United Therapeutics1.68%
Insmed1.64%
Incyte Corp1.64%
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals1.49%
Roivant Sciences Ltd1.31%
Charles River Laboratories Interna1.15%
Exelixis Inc1.13%
Ascendis Pharma1.05%
Halozyme Therapeutics1.00%
Neurocrine Biosciences1.00%
Medpace Holdings0.99%
Bridgebio Pharma0.89%
Bio Techne0.77%
Biomarin Pharmaceutical0.76%
Repligen0.72%
Twist Bioscience0.66%
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals0.63%
Protagonist Therapeutics0.60%
Krystal Biotech0.58%
Biontech SE Adr0.57%
Cytokinetics0.57%
10X Genomics Class A0.55%
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals0.54%
Tempus Ai Class A0.53%
Alkermes0.50%
Ionis Pharmaceuticals0.48%
Axsome Therapeutics0.43%
Bruker0.43%
Abivax American Depositary Shares0.43%
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals0.41%
Grail Inc0.41%
Ptc Therapeutics0.32%
Travere Therapeutics0.31%
Crispr Therapeutics AG0.31%
Mirum Pharmaceuticals0.31%
Caris Life Sciences0.30%
Adaptive Biotechnologies0.28%
Caredx0.28%
Veracyte0.27%

Weight gaps

All 89 Holdings in both funds, largest gap first.

Holding weights in BBC and IBB, widest gap first
Holding	More in BBCMore in IBB	BBC	IBB
Kodiak Sciences IncKOD	BBC +1.85 points	2.24%	0.39%
AbCellera Biologics IncABCL	BBC +1.68 points	1.89%	0.21%
Xencor IncXNCR	BBC +1.66 points	1.80%	0.14%
Revolution Medicines IncRVMD	IBB +1.56 points	0.94%	2.50%
Prime Medicine IncPRME	BBC +1.40 points	1.43%	0.03%
Replimune Group IncREPL	BBC +1.38 points	1.48%	0.10%
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals IncAMLX	BBC +1.28 points	1.49%	0.21%
4D Molecular Therapeutics IncFDMT	BBC +1.06 points	1.10%	0.04%
MBX Biosciences IncMBX	BBC +1.04 points	1.16%	0.12%
Zenas Biopharma IncZBIO	BBC +1.03 points	1.10%	0.07%
Nurix Therapeutics IncNRIX	BBC +1.03 points	1.21%	0.18%
Biohaven LtdBHVN	BBC +0.98 points	1.11%	0.13%
Maze Therapeutics IncMAZE	BBC +0.94 points	1.01%	0.07%
Vir Biotechnology IncVIR	BBC +0.93 points	1.03%	0.10%
Janux Therapeutics IncJANX	BBC +0.93 points	1.00%	0.07%
Recursion Pharmaceuticals IncRXRX	BBC +0.87 points	1.02%	0.15%
Septerna IncSEPN	BBC +0.86 points	0.95%	0.09%
Definium Therapeutics IncDFTX	BBC +0.84 points	1.16%	0.32%
REGENXBIO IncRGNX	BBC +0.81 points	0.84%	0.03%
Cullinan Therapeutics IncCGEM	BBC +0.81 points	0.86%	0.05%
Prothena Corp PLCPRTA	BBC +0.79 points	0.82%	0.03%
Relay Therapeutics IncRLAY	BBC +0.79 points	1.00%	0.21%
ORIC Pharmaceuticals IncORIC	BBC +0.78 points	0.82%	0.04%
Alto Neuroscience IncANRO	BBC +0.78 points	0.83%	0.05%
Disc Medicine IncIRON	BBC +0.76 points	0.92%	0.16%
Arvinas IncARVN	BBC +0.76 points	0.79%	0.03%
Pharvaris NVPHVS	BBC +0.75 points	0.83%	0.08%
Design Therapeutics IncDSGN	BBC +0.73 points	0.76%	0.03%
Sana Biotechnology IncSANA	BBC +0.74 points	0.77%	0.03%
Candel Therapeutics IncCADL	BBC +0.74 points	0.77%	0.03%
Neurogene IncNGNE	BBC +0.72 points	0.75%	0.03%
MeiraGTx Holdings plcMGTX	BBC +0.72 points	0.77%	0.05%
Aura Biosciences IncAURA	BBC +0.71 points	0.74%	0.03%
Arbutus Biopharma CorpABUS	BBC +0.71 points	0.76%	0.05%
Intellia Therapeutics IncNTLA	BBC +0.72 points	0.83%	0.11%
Summit Therapeutics IncSMMT	BBC +0.71 points	0.88%	0.17%
Bicycle Therapeutics PLCBCYC	BBC +0.71 points	0.72%	<0.01%
GH Research PLCGHRS	BBC +0.70 points	0.77%	0.07%
Rocket Pharmaceuticals IncRCKT	BBC +0.68 points	0.70%	0.02%
Savara IncSVRA	BBC +0.68 points	0.71%	0.03%
Compass Pathways PlcCMPS	BBC +0.68 points	0.77%	0.09%
Ideaya Biosciences IncIDYA	BBC +0.66 points	0.86%	0.20%
Oruka Therapeutics IncORKA	BBC +0.66 points	1.05%	0.39%
Solid Biosciences IncSLDB	BBC +0.64 points	0.68%	0.04%
Edgewise Therapeutics IncEWTX	BBC +0.63 points	0.85%	0.22%
Mineralys Therapeutics IncMLYS	BBC +0.61 points	0.68%	0.07%
Corvus Pharmaceuticals IncCRVS	BBC +0.61 points	0.65%	0.04%
Annexon IncANNX	BBC +0.61 points	0.65%	0.04%
Altimmune IncALT	BBC +0.59 points	0.62%	0.03%
uniQure NVQURE	BBC +0.59 points	0.70%	0.11%
Beam Therapeutics IncBEAM	BBC +0.58 points	0.75%	0.17%
Stoke Therapeutics IncSTOK	BBC +0.57 points	0.67%	0.10%
Erasca IncERAS	BBC +0.57 points	0.81%	0.24%
AnaptysBio IncANAB	BBC +0.57 points	0.66%	0.09%
Enliven Therapeutics IncELVN	BBC +0.56 points	0.74%	0.18%
Vera Therapeutics IncVERA	BBC +0.56 points	0.68%	0.12%
Inhibrx Biosciences IncINBX	BBC +0.56 points	0.61%	0.05%
CG oncology IncCGON	BBC +0.55 points	0.81%	0.26%
CytomX Therapeutics IncCTMX	BBC +0.55 points	0.58%	0.03%
Dyne Therapeutics IncDYN	BBC +0.54 points	0.71%	0.17%
Olema Pharmaceuticals IncOLMA	BBC +0.53 points	0.56%	0.03%
Tyra Biosciences IncTYRA	BBC +0.52 points	0.60%	0.08%
Lexeo Therapeutics IncLXEO	BBC +0.52 points	0.53%	0.01%
Immunovant IncIMVT	BBC +0.50 points	0.67%	0.17%
Tectonic Therapeutic IncTECX	BBC +0.50 points	0.51%	0.01%
Arcus Biosciences IncRCUS	BBC +0.48 points	0.59%	0.10%
Taysha Gene Therapies IncTSHA	BBC +0.49 points	0.56%	0.07%
Allogene Therapeutics IncALLO	BBC +0.48 points	0.50%	0.02%
Scholar Rock Holding CorpSRRK	BBC +0.46 points	0.76%	0.30%
Kymera Therapeutics IncKYMR	BBC +0.44 points	1.08%	0.64%
Wave Life Sciences IncWVE	BBC +0.43 points	0.47%	0.04%
Rapport Therapeutics IncRAPP	BBC +0.43 points	0.48%	0.05%
Newamsterdam Pharma Co NVNAMS	BBC +0.41 points	0.52%	0.11%
Spyre Therapeutics IncSYRE	BBC +0.41 points	0.93%	0.52%
Monte Rosa Therapeutics IncGLUE	BBC +0.41 points	0.45%	0.04%
Cogent Biosciences IncCOGT	BBC +0.40 points	0.73%	0.33%
Upstream Bio IncUPB	BBC +0.40 points	0.41%	<0.01%
Vaxcyte IncPCVX	BBC +0.39 points	1.00%	0.61%
Cabaletta Bio IncCABA	BBC +0.38 points	0.40%	0.01%
ArriVent Biopharma IncAVBP	BBC +0.36 points	0.40%	0.04%
Tango Therapeutics IncTNGX	BBC +0.33 points	0.55%	0.21%
Bicara Therapeutics IncBCAX	BBC +0.31 points	0.34%	0.03%
Xenon Pharmaceuticals IncXENE	BBC +0.32 points	0.55%	0.23%
Praxis Precision Medicines IncPRAX	BBC +0.31 points	0.82%	0.51%
Structure Therapeutics IncGPCR	BBC +0.30 points	0.39%	0.09%
BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics IncBBOT	BBC +0.25 points	0.26%	<0.01%
BioAge Labs IncBIOA	BBC +0.24 points	0.25%	0.01%
Alumis IncALMS	BBC +0.18 points	0.22%	0.04%
Sionna Therapeutics IncSION	BBC +0.07 points	0.08%	<0.01%

All 198 BBC holdings⁠All 243 IBB holdings⁠

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

BBC vs IBB Cost

Overpaying BBC vs IBB

$3,865

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

BBC 0.65%
$12,717
IBB 0.44%
$8,852

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

BBC 0.65%
IBB 0.44%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	BBC	IBB	Overpaying
10	$1,163	$794	$369
20	$4,440	$3,061	$1,379
30	$12,717	$8,852	$3,865

Expense ratio

0.65%BBC
0.44%IBB, cheaper

IBB0.44%BBC0.65%

0.19%0.75%

Middle half of Biotech & Genomics funds
Median 0.47%

IBB 6th cheapest of 17 funds

BBC 15th cheapest of 17 funds

BBC vs IBB Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026

Yield (12M): BBC 1.52%, better; IBB 0.16%
Payout (12M): BBC $0.66; IBB $0.34
Last payment: BBC $0.66; IBB $0.01
Ex-dividend: BBC Dec 22, 2025; IBB Sep 15, 2026
Paid on: BBC Dec 29, 2025; IBB Sep 18, 2026
Frequency: BBC Annual; IBB Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

BBCAnnual · 4 paymentsAll BBC payments⁠

IBBQuarterly · 36 paymentsAll IBB payments⁠

BBC vs IBB Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: BBC 35.7%IBB 17.9%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: BBC 0.90IBB 1.07, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: BBC −70.1%IBB −35.7%, better
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: BBC 1.31IBB 0.70; Market = 1

BBC and IBB in the news

All news⁠

Deep Dive
Health care's 1.8% week was four large caps, not a biotech rally
Sep 19, 2026BBCIBB
Deep Dive
Moderna fell 18% on cancer-vaccine data, and genomics ETFs fell 4%
Oct 23, 2026IBB
News
AstraZeneca agrees to invest $2 billion in Summit, without the drug rights
Sep 28, 2026IBB
Deep Dive
Health care ETFs spent 2026 between a 28% biotech rally and a 16% device slide
Sep 14, 2026IBB

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BBC vs IBB

In short

Stated mandate

Why people hold it