BME vs VTI
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BME or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BME | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.14% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $602M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.05% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 159 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +17.52%Best | +13.95% |
| 1Y Return | +34.88%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.67% | +11.77%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.6%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,175 | $17,443Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2005 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 29, 2005 to Sep 3, 2026 (21.4 years).
BME vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 21.4 years both funds cover.
BME vs VTI Performance
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BME returned +34.88% while VTI returned +21.44%. Year to date, BME is up 17.52% versus a gain of 13.95% for VTI.
Over three years, BME compounded at +12.95% per year against +21.10% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +5.67% and +11.77% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.69% annualized vs +4.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BME has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.4% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -44.6% for BME and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BME charges 1.14% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $114 vs $3 annually, a gap of $111 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BME currently yields 7.05% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 86.1% of BME's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 92.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of BME is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, BME as of Mar 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
98 positions in common, counted across the 138 positions we hold weights for in BME and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 159 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BME | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 10.26% | 1.40% | 8.86% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 10.75% | 0.84% | 9.91% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 5.36% | 0.44% | 4.92% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 4.11% | 0.61% | 3.50% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 3.94% | 0.22% | 3.72% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 3.43% | 0.27% | 3.16% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 3.04% | 0.52% | 2.52% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.75% | 0.19% | 2.56% |
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2.68% | 0.17% | 2.51% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc. | 2.38% | 0.19% | 2.19% |
86.1% of BME is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BME or VTI?
BME has an expense ratio of 1.14% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $111 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BME or VTI?
Over the past year BME returned +34.88% vs +21.44% for VTI, so BME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), BME annualized +4.67% vs +9.69% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BME or VTI?
BME has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: BME -44.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both BME and VTI?
BME and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BME and VTI?
At least 86.1% of BME's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 98 positions in common, counted across the 138 positions we hold weights for in BME and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, BME or VTI?
BME yields 7.05% while VTI yields 1.07%, so BME currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BME?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.