BME vs DFNL
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust vs Davis Select Financial ETF
Which is better, BME or DFNL?
Each has led over a different period.
DFNL has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, DFNL over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BME is less concentrated, with 51.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%.
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 | DFNL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.14% | 0.63%Best |
| AUM | $591M | $442M |
| Dividend Yield | 6.87% | 1.37% |
| Holdings | 156 | 90 |
| YTD Return | +13.85%Best | -0.91% |
| 1Y Return | +26.79%Best | +8.37% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.27% | +22.68%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.83% | +10.68%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 19.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.0%Best | -44.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,275 | $16,609Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.5%Best | 56.8% |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Davis ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2005 | Jan 11, 2017 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 12, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9.8 years).
BME vs DFNL 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 9.8 years both funds cover.
BME vs DFNL Performance
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Davis Select Financial ETF (DFNL) is an ETF from Davis ETFs. Over the past year BME returned +26.79% while DFNL returned +8.37%. Year to date, BME is up 13.85% versus a loss of 0.91% for DFNL.
Over three years, BME compounded at +12.27% per year against +22.68% for DFNL; over five years the annualized figures are +5.83% and +10.68% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, DFNL has the edge at +11.26% annualized vs +6.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFNL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 15.3% for BME. 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 -37.0% for BME and -44.5% for DFNL. 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
BME charges 1.14% per year while DFNL charges 0.63%. On a $10,000 position that is $114 vs $63 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BME currently yields 6.87% against 1.37% for DFNL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 133 holdings in BME and 30 in DFNL, totalling 95.6% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, BME as of Jun 30, 2026 and DFNL as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in BME and 30 in DFNL, against full books of 156 and 90.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 23 positions for DFNL that do not appear in our book for BME (83.6% of the fund), and 113 for BME that do not appear in DFNL (89.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BME and DFNL 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, BME or DFNL?
BME has an expense ratio of 1.14% while DFNL charges 0.63%. DFNL is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BME or DFNL?
Over the past year BME returned +26.79% vs +8.37% for DFNL, so BME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), BME annualized +6.99% vs +11.26% for DFNL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BME or DFNL?
DFNL has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 15.3% for BME. Worst drawdown: BME -37.0% vs DFNL -44.5%.
Should I hold both BME and DFNL?
BME and DFNL 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, BME or DFNL?
BME yields 6.87% while DFNL yields 1.37%, so BME currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is DFNL better than BME?
DFNL has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, DFNL over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BME is less concentrated, with 51.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.