BUI vs DSTL
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust vs Distillate US Fundamental Stability & Value ETF
Which is better, BUI or DSTL?
Each has led over a different period.
DSTL has a lower expense ratio. BUI led over 3Y, DSTL over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. DSTL is less concentrated, with 18.3% 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 | DSTL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.39%Best |
| AUM | $687M | $2.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.99% | 1.14% |
| Holdings | 54 | 300 |
| YTD Return | +3.71% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.35% | +16.45%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.33%Best | +15.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.84% | +10.92%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 17.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.3% | -33.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,585 | $16,790Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.6% | 18.3%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Distillate Capital Etfs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2011 | Oct 23, 2018 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 24, 2018 to Oct 14, 2026 (8 years).
BUI vs DSTL 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 8 years both funds cover.
BUI vs DSTL Performance
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Distillate US Fundamental Stability & Value ETF (DSTL) is an ETF from Distillate Capital Etfs. Over the past year BUI returned +6.35% while DSTL returned +16.45%. Year to date, BUI is up 3.71% versus a gain of 13.34% for DSTL.
Over three years, BUI compounded at +15.33% per year against +15.03% for DSTL; over five years the annualized figures are +7.84% and +10.92% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, DSTL has the edge at +14.39% annualized vs +9.05%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 17.3% for DSTL. 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 -33.1% for DSTL. 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 DSTL charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $39 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUI currently yields 10.99% against 1.14% for DSTL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 54 holdings in BUI and 101 in DSTL, totalling 101.1% 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, BUI as of Jun 30, 2026 and DSTL 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 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 101 in DSTL, against full books of 54 and 300.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 100 positions for DSTL that do not appear in our book for BUI (99.2% of the fund), and 32 for BUI that do not appear in DSTL (69.3%).
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 BUI and DSTL 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, BUI or DSTL?
BUI has an expense ratio of 1.07% while DSTL charges 0.39%. DSTL is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUI or DSTL?
Over the past year BUI returned +6.35% vs +16.45% for DSTL, so DSTL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), BUI annualized +9.05% vs +14.39% for DSTL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUI or DSTL?
BUI has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 17.3% for DSTL. Worst drawdown: BUI -48.3% vs DSTL -33.1%.
Should I hold both BUI and DSTL?
BUI and DSTL 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUI or DSTL?
BUI yields 10.99% while DSTL yields 1.14%, so BUI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is DSTL better than BUI?
DSTL has a lower expense ratio. BUI led over 3Y, DSTL over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. DSTL is less concentrated, with 18.3% 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.