BST vs. NIE

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

BST (BlackRock Science and Technology Trust) is a stock, while NIE (Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund) is Derivative Income fund actively managed by Virtus. Over the past 10 years, BST returned 20.10%/yr vs 14.12%/yr for NIE. A 0.69 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

BST vs. NIE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BST achieves a 21.48% return, which is significantly higher than NIE's 8.90% return. Over the past 10 years, BST has outperformed NIE with an annualized return of 20.10%, while NIE has yielded a comparatively lower 14.12% annualized return.

BST

• 1D: 2.64%
• 1M: 6.02%
• YTD: 21.48%
• 6M: 27.08%
• 1Y: 42.06%
• 3Y*: 22.50%
• 5Y*: 4.54%
• 10Y*: 20.10%

NIE

• 1D: 0.53%
• 1M: -0.78%
• YTD: 8.90%
• 6M: 10.96%
• 1Y: 24.35%
• 3Y*: 19.17%
• 5Y*: 10.22%
• 10Y*: 14.12%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BST vs. NIE - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BST BlackRock Science and Technology Trust	21.48%	23.65%	17.96%	30.07%	-38.28%	-0.35%	69.27%	34.57%	8.84%	57.43%
NIE Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund	8.90%	12.15%	28.64%	26.71%	-26.73%	18.89%	33.78%	31.09%	-5.69%	23.68%

Correlation

The correlation between BST and NIE is 0.76, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.76
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.72
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.77
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.70
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 2014	0.69

The correlation between BST and NIE has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.69 to 0.77 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

BST vs. NIE — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BST

BST Risk / Return Rank: 87
BST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 91
BST Sortino Ratio Rank: 89
BST Omega Ratio Rank: 89
BST Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
BST Martin Ratio Rank: 87

NIE

NIE Risk / Return Rank: 71
NIE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
NIE Sortino Ratio Rank: 72
NIE Omega Ratio Rank: 68
NIE Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
NIE Martin Ratio Rank: 73

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BST vs. NIE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	BST	NIE	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.17	2.06	+0.12
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.87	2.89	-0.02
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.39	1.37	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.76	2.72	+0.04
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.87	11.23	-2.36

BST vs. NIE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BST Sharpe Ratio is 2.17, which is comparable to the NIE Sharpe Ratio of 2.06. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BST and NIE, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BST vs. NIE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BST drawdown since its inception was -47.72%, smaller than the maximum NIE drawdown of -57.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BST and NIE.

Drawdown Indicators

	BST	NIE	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-47.72%	-57.90%	+10.18%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.31%	-8.99%	-6.32%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-23.37%	-20.79%	-2.58%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-47.72%	-31.04%	-16.68%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-47.72%	-38.99%	-8.73%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.13%	-1.95%	-2.18%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-12.96%	-8.00%	-4.96%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.76%	2.18%	+2.58%

Volatility

BST vs. NIE - Volatility Comparison

BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) has a higher volatility of 9.75% compared to Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE) at 4.42%. This indicates that BST's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than NIE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BST	NIE	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.75%	4.42%	+5.33%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.86%	9.60%	+7.26%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.44%	11.89%	+7.55%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.81%	17.59%	+6.22%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	25.83%	19.78%	+6.05%

Dividends

BST vs. NIE - Dividend Comparison

BST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.79%, more than NIE's 7.62% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BST BlackRock Science and Technology Trust	8.79%	10.36%	8.21%	8.91%	10.57%	5.38%	3.85%	10.52%	6.41%	4.80%	6.69%	6.93%
NIE Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund	7.62%	10.14%	8.11%	9.56%	21.81%	10.86%	5.37%	6.71%	8.20%	7.19%	8.25%	8.46%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BST and NIE in my portfolio?

BST and NIE have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BST or NIE?

BST has higher volatility (9.75%) compared to NIE (4.42%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BST dropped -47.72% vs NIE's -57.90%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BST currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 vs 2.06), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.