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How Healthcare Tech ETF HTEC Defied September's Market Turmoil

BY | ETF Database
7:59 am ET 10/05/26 | 5 VIEWS
It’s always exciting to see a fund perform well over the course of a month, but it’s also important to understand exactly why that strong performance may be happening.Key Takeaways: September proved to be a relatively difficult month for many sectors of the equity market, including the healthcare sector. However, the Robo Global Healthcare Technology & Innovation ETF (HTEC B) performed well during the month, growing its NAV by 4.14%. This performance was likely due in part to how HTEC leans into technological innovation within the healthcare industry. The tech sector is one of the few sectors that performed well in September. That was recently the case for the Robo Global Healthcare Technology & Innovation ETF (HTEC B). As of September 30, 2026, the fund’s NAV rose 4.14% over the month. These results are even more notable when one remembers what September brought for the equity markets. About halfway through the month, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in over three years. This decision had immediate implications for the equity market and the broader economy. Concerns mounted over a slowing economy in the coming months, and many sectors outside of technology struggled to stay afloat. This included the broader healthcare sector. See More: The Top HealthTech Questions Landing on Our DesksThe Advantages of Healthcare TechnologyGiven these dynamics, advisors and investors may thus be wondering: why did HTEC do so well in September? The answer to that question may lie within HTEC’s core investment philosophy. HTEC is not a traditional healthcare ETF per se. The fund uses a proprietary thematic scoring system to rank and weight companies with exposure to segments the team has deemed essential to address challenges in healthcare today, as well as those needed in the future. Targeting sectors such as robotics, genomics and precision medicine, the strategy aims to include the leaders of each technology. This investment approach lets HTEC capture opportunities within a few distinct sectors of the equity market. Healthcare companies traditionally offer portfolio defense, but the fund can tap into deep growth opportunities such as AI drug discovery, surgical robots needed to care for increasingly aging populations, and automation that enables the development of increasingly personalized therapies. See More: AI & Robotics in 2026: 16 Recent Developments for Investors HTEC’s lean into research based selection likely helped it navigate September’s broader market turmoil. While many tech funds also enjoyed growth in September, HTEC’s exposure to the companies creating the tools that enable real-world AI drug discovery likely played a key role in driving its gains. Looking ahead, HTEC and its approach to investing in innovative healthcare technology companies can offer a multitude of portfolio benefits. Through a single ticker, advisors and investors can simultaneously tap into the defense found within the healthcare sector, while leaning into long-term growth through technological innovation. HTEC’s investment case grows even more potent when viewed through a long-term lens. As of September 30, 2026, the fund’s NAV has risen 44.65% over the last 12 months. For more news, information, and analysis, visit our Disruptive Technology Content Hub. vettafi.com is owned by VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”). VettaFi is the index provider for HTEC, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, HTEC is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi. VettaFi and its affiliates have no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of HTEC.

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