BSTZ vs VYM
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BSTZ or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.05% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.13% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 75 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +40.29%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +50.37%Best | +17.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.02%Best | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.21% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.8% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.3% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,891 | $17,750Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 10, 2026 (7.2 years).
BSTZ vs VYM 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 VYM Performance
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust (BSTZ) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BSTZ returned +50.37% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, BSTZ is up 40.29% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, BSTZ compounded at +35.02% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +5.21% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, BSTZ has the edge at +15.03% annualized vs +11.52%.
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 15.1% for VYM. 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 -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSTZ charges 1.05% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $105 vs $4 annually, a gap of $101 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BSTZ currently yields 7.13% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VYM's money is in holdings BSTZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BSTZ, our book for it covers 62.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, BSTZ as of Dec 31, 2025 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in BSTZ and 603 in VYM, against full books of 75 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BSTZ and VYM 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 VYM?
BSTZ has an expense ratio of 1.05% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $101 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BSTZ or VYM?
Over the past year BSTZ returned +50.37% vs +17.82% for VYM, so BSTZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BSTZ annualized +15.03% vs +11.52% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSTZ or VYM?
BSTZ has been the more volatile fund at 28.8% annualized versus 15.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BSTZ -59.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both BSTZ and VYM?
BSTZ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 VYM?
BSTZ yields 7.13% while VYM yields 2.22%, so BSTZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BSTZ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.