BSTZ vs VXUS
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, BSTZ or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y.
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 | BSTZ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.05% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.94% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 75 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +42.07%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +57.80%Best | +27.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +33.74%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.06% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.8% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.3% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,799 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2019 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.2 years).
BSTZ 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 7.2 years both funds cover.
BSTZ vs VXUS Performance
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust (BSTZ) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BSTZ returned +57.80% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, BSTZ is up 42.07% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, BSTZ compounded at +33.74% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +5.06% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, BSTZ has the edge at +15.27% annualized vs +10.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BSTZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.8% compared with 16.0% 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 -59.3% for BSTZ and -35.1% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSTZ charges 1.05% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $105 vs $5 annually, a gap of $100 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BSTZ currently yields 7.94% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 55 holdings in BSTZ and 8,092 in VXUS, totalling 62.9% and 87.5% 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, 10 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, BSTZ as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
10 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in BSTZ and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 75 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BSTZ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLS:CACelestica Inc. Common Stock | 2.92% | 0.09% | 2.83% |
| TSEM:ILTower Semiconductor Ltd | 2.71% | 0.06% | 2.65% |
| 6857:JPAdvantest Corp|366 | 1.99% | 0.33% | 1.66% |
| 3017:TWAsia Vital Components Co Ltd | 1.44% | 0.06% | 1.38% |
| 2383:TWElite Material Co Ltd | 1.07% | 0.11% | 0.96% |
| 6525:JPKokusai Electric Corporation Com Stk | 0.91% | 0.04% | 0.87% |
| 034020:KRDoosan Enerbility Co. Ltd. | 0.85% | 0.06% | 0.79% |
| 2368:TWGold Circuit Electronics Ltd | 0.64% | 0.03% | 0.61% |
| 9766:JPKonami Group Corporation | 0.63% | 0.02% | 0.61% |
| PME:AUPro Medicus Ltd | 0.28% | 0.02% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BSTZ 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, BSTZ or VXUS?
BSTZ has an expense ratio of 1.05% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $100 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BSTZ or VXUS?
Over the past year BSTZ returned +57.80% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so BSTZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BSTZ annualized +15.27% vs +10.08% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSTZ or VXUS?
BSTZ has been the more volatile fund at 28.8% annualized versus 16.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: BSTZ -59.3% vs VXUS -35.1%.
Should I hold both BSTZ and VXUS?
BSTZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, BSTZ or VXUS?
BSTZ yields 7.94% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so BSTZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than BSTZ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.