BSL vs VYM
Blackstone Senior Floating Rate 2027 Term Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BSL or VYM?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Value.
VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 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 | BSL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.04% |
| AUM | $175M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.87% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 354 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +1.10% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.50% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.93% | +18.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.40% | +11.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -57.1% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,820 | $17,241Best |
| Fund Family | The Blackstone Group Inc | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 26, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2010 to Oct 14, 2026 (16.4 years).
BSL 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BSL vs VYM Performance
Blackstone Senior Floating Rate 2027 Term Fund (BSL) is an ETF from The Blackstone Group Inc and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BSL returned +0.50% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, BSL is up 1.10% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, BSL compounded at +8.93% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.40% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.53% annualized vs +0.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 12.1% for BSL. 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 -57.1% for BSL 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 97 holdings in BSL and 602 in VYM, totalling 42.6% 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 243 days apart, BSL as of Dec 31, 2025 and VYM as of Aug 31, 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 97 positions we hold weights for in BSL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 354 and 608.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BSL 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 performed better, BSL or VYM?
Over the past year BSL returned +0.50% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), BSL annualized +0.12% vs +10.53% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSL or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 12.1% for BSL. Worst drawdown: BSL -57.1% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both BSL and VYM?
BSL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, BSL or VYM?
BSL yields 7.87% while VYM yields 2.37%, so BSL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BSL?
VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.