BUI vs VYM
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BUI or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.6%.
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 | BUI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $711M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.21% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 52 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +3.63% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.23% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.29% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.01% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.3% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,032 | $17,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.6% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2011 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.8 years).
BUI 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 14.8 years both funds cover.
BUI vs VYM Performance
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUI returned +10.23% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, BUI is up 3.63% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, BUI compounded at +16.29% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.01% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.69% annualized vs +4.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 12.9% 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 -48.3% for BUI 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUI charges 1.07% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $4 annually, a gap of $103 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUI currently yields 10.21% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
52.4% of BUI's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 5.6% of VYM's money is in holdings BUI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 557 in VYM, against full books of 52 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 510 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BUI (91.5% of the fund), and 14 for BUI that do not appear in VYM (17.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BUI | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 6.17% | 0.74% | 5.43% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 4.11% | 0.70% | 3.41% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 4.17% | 0.35% | 3.82% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 3.94% | 0.43% | 3.51% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 3.96% | 0.40% | 3.56% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 3.46% | 0.28% | 3.18% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 3.25% | 0.23% | 3.02% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 2.85% | 0.25% | 2.60% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 2.81% | 0.24% | 2.57% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.55% | 0.20% | 2.35% |
52.4% of BUI is already inside VYM.
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, BUI or VYM?
BUI has an expense ratio of 1.07% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $103 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUI or VYM?
Over the past year BUI returned +10.23% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BUI annualized +4.46% vs +10.69% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUI or VYM?
BUI has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 12.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BUI -48.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both BUI and VYM?
BUI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 BUI and VYM?
52.4% of BUI's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 5.6% of VYM's is in holdings BUI also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUI or VYM?
BUI yields 10.21% while VYM yields 2.22%, so BUI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BUI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.