BMEZ vs VXUS
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, BMEZ or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. BMEZ led over 1Y, VXUS 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 | BMEZ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.30% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.41% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 176 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +16.91%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +25.75%Best | +22.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.20% | +19.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.63% | +8.82%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0% | 16.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.0% | -34.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,689 | $15,260Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 29, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 29, 2020 to Sep 10, 2026 (6.6 years).
BMEZ vs VXUS 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 6.6 years both funds cover.
BMEZ vs VXUS Performance
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (BMEZ) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BMEZ returned +25.75% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, BMEZ is up 16.91% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, BMEZ compounded at +15.20% per year against +19.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -0.63% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +9.81% annualized vs +5.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BMEZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% compared with 16.5% for VXUS. 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 -46.0% for BMEZ and -34.2% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BMEZ charges 1.30% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $130 vs $5 annually, a gap of $125 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BMEZ currently yields 7.41% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 139 holdings in BMEZ and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 86.2% and 87.7% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 14 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, BMEZ as of Mar 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
14 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in BMEZ and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 176 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BMEZ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROG:SMRoche Holding Ag | 1.69% | 0.64% | 1.05% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Chf0.49 (Regd) | 1.58% | 0.65% | 0.93% |
| AZN:LNAstrazeneca Plc | 1.13% | 0.62% | 0.51% |
| 0MGB:COGenmab A/S | 1.55% | 0.04% | 1.51% |
| LONN:SMLonza Group AG Ordinary Shares | 1.47% | 0.10% | 1.37% |
| UCB:BRUcb Sa | 1.32% | 0.08% | 1.24% |
| ARGX:ASArgenx Se Sponsored Adr (1 Ads : 1 Ordinary) | 0.86% | 0.13% | 0.73% |
| 4523:JPEisai Co Ltd | 0.94% | 0.01% | 0.93% |
| GSK:LNGsk Plc Common Stock Gbp | 0.61% | 0.23% | 0.38% |
| TEVA:ILTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd Sponsored Adr | 0.63% | 0.09% | 0.54% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BMEZ and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BMEZ or VXUS?
BMEZ has an expense ratio of 1.30% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $125 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BMEZ or VXUS?
Over the past year BMEZ returned +25.75% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so BMEZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BMEZ annualized +5.69% vs +9.81% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BMEZ or VXUS?
BMEZ has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 16.5% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: BMEZ -46.0% vs VXUS -34.2%.
Should I hold both BMEZ and VXUS?
BMEZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BMEZ or VXUS?
BMEZ yields 7.41% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so BMEZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than BMEZ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. BMEZ led over 1Y, VXUS 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.