BME vs SIXH
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust vs ETC 6 Meridian Hedged Equity Index Option ETF
Which is better, BME or SIXH?
Each has led over a different period.
SIXH has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, SIXH over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SIXH is less concentrated, with 33.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.5%.
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 | SIXH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.14% | 0.73%Best |
| AUM | $591M | $605M |
| Dividend Yield | 6.87% | 1.78% |
| Holdings | 156 | 106 |
| YTD Return | +13.85% | +14.72%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.79%Best | +17.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.27% | +13.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.83% | +9.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 9.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.3% | -11.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,275 | $16,069Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.5% | 33.6%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | 6 Meridian ETF |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2005 | May 11, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 11, 2020 to Oct 14, 2026 (6.4 years).
BME vs SIXH 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 SIXH Performance
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and ETC 6 Meridian Hedged Equity Index Option ETF (SIXH) is an ETF from 6 Meridian ETF. Over the past year BME returned +26.79% while SIXH returned +17.59%. Year to date, BME is up 13.85% versus a gain of 14.72% for SIXH.
Over three years, BME compounded at +12.27% per year against +13.16% for SIXH; over five years the annualized figures are +5.83% and +9.95% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SIXH has the edge at +10.89% annualized vs +7.45%.
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 9.1% for SIXH. 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 -11.7% for SIXH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BME charges 1.14% per year while SIXH charges 0.73%. On a $10,000 position that is $114 vs $73 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BME currently yields 6.87% against 1.78% for SIXH.
Holdings Overlap
32.9% of BME's money is in holdings SIXH also owns. 13.7% of SIXH's money is in holdings BME also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, BME as of Jun 30, 2026 and SIXH as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
7 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in BME and 52 in SIXH, against full books of 156 and 106.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 45 positions for SIXH that do not appear in our book for BME (86.9% of the fund), and 107 for BME that do not appear in SIXH (57.0%).
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
32.9% of BME is already inside SIXH.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BME or SIXH?
BME has an expense ratio of 1.14% while SIXH charges 0.73%. SIXH is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BME or SIXH?
Over the past year BME returned +26.79% vs +17.59% for SIXH, so BME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BME annualized +7.45% vs +10.89% for SIXH. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BME or SIXH?
BME has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 9.1% for SIXH. Worst drawdown: BME -18.3% vs SIXH -11.7%.
Should I hold both BME and SIXH?
BME and SIXH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 SIXH?
32.9% of BME's money is in holdings SIXH also owns. 13.7% of SIXH's is in holdings BME also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in BME and 52 in SIXH.
Which pays a higher dividend, BME or SIXH?
BME yields 6.87% while SIXH yields 1.78%, so BME currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SIXH better than BME?
SIXH has a lower expense ratio. BME led over 1Y, SIXH over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SIXH is less concentrated, with 33.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.