BME vs JEPI
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust vs JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF
Which is better, BME or JEPI?
Each has led over a different period.
JEPI has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y and 3Y, JEPI over 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 | BME | JEPI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.14% | 0.35%Best |
| AUM | $591M | $45.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.87% | 8.16% |
| Holdings | 156 | 271 |
| YTD Return | +13.85%Best | +5.33% |
| 1Y Return | +26.79%Best | +8.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.27%Best | +10.19% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.83% | +7.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 9.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.3% | -13.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,275 | $14,383Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | J.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2005 | May 20, 2020 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 21, 2020 to Oct 14, 2026 (6.4 years).
BME vs JEPI 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 6.4 years both funds cover.
BME vs JEPI Performance
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Over the past year BME returned +26.79% while JEPI returned +8.29%. Year to date, BME is up 13.85% versus a gain of 5.33% for JEPI.
Over three years, BME compounded at +12.27% per year against +10.19% for JEPI; over five years the annualized figures are +5.83% and +7.54% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, JEPI has the edge at +9.97% annualized vs +7.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BME has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 9.9% for JEPI. 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 -18.3% for BME and -13.7% for JEPI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BME charges 1.14% per year while JEPI charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $114 vs $35 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BME currently yields 6.87% against 8.16% for JEPI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 51.7% of BME's money is in holdings JEPI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for JEPI, our book for it covers 86.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 98 days apart, BME as of Jun 30, 2026 and JEPI as of Oct 6, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
15 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in BME and 121 in JEPI, against full books of 156 and 271.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BME | Weight in JEPI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 12.46% | 0.98% | 11.48% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 7.80% | 1.70% | 6.10% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 5.07% | 1.71% | 3.36% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 6.12% | 0.39% | 5.73% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 5.23% | 0.45% | 4.78% |
| VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc - Common | 2.78% | 1.04% | 1.74% |
| TMOThermo Fisher Scientific Inc | 2.97% | 0.29% | 2.68% |
| EWEdwards Lifesciences Corp | 2.37% | 0.22% | 2.15% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 1.90% | 0.28% | 1.62% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc | 1.15% | 0.69% | 0.46% |
51.7% of BME is already inside JEPI.
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, BME or JEPI?
BME has an expense ratio of 1.14% while JEPI charges 0.35%. JEPI is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BME or JEPI?
Over the past year BME returned +26.79% vs +8.29% for JEPI, so BME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BME annualized +7.66% vs +9.97% for JEPI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BME or JEPI?
BME has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 9.9% for JEPI. Worst drawdown: BME -18.3% vs JEPI -13.7%.
Should I hold both BME and JEPI?
BME and JEPI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 BME and JEPI?
At least 51.7% of BME's money is in holdings JEPI also owns. Our book for JEPI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in BME and 121 in JEPI.
Which pays a higher dividend, BME or JEPI?
BME yields 6.87% while JEPI yields 8.16%, so JEPI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is JEPI better than BME?
JEPI has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y and 3Y, JEPI over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.