BST vs. XLK
BST (BlackRock Science and Technology Trust) is a stock, while XLK (State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Technology Equities fund tracking the S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index. Over the past 10 years, BST returned 19.04%/yr vs 23.77%/yr for XLK. Their 0.74 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently.
Performance
BST vs. XLK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BST achieves a 18.86% return, which is significantly lower than XLK's 22.09% return. Over the past 10 years, BST has underperformed XLK with an annualized return of 19.04%, while XLK has yielded a comparatively higher 23.77% annualized return.
BST
- 1D
- 1.29%
- 1M
- -4.12%
- 6M
- 16.98%
- YTD
- 18.86%
- 1Y
- 33.10%
- 3Y*
- 19.80%
- 5Y*
- 5.79%
- 10Y*
- 19.04%
- ALL TIME*
- 15.81%
XLK
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- -2.90%
- 6M
- 22.17%
- YTD
- 22.09%
- 1Y
- 37.14%
- 3Y*
- 26.04%
- 5Y*
- 18.87%
- 10Y*
- 23.77%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.21%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $4.06M | $3.83M | $5.22M | |
| $1.61B | $1.67B | $2.22B |
BST vs. XLK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BST BlackRock Science and Technology Trust | 18.86% | 23.65% | 17.96% | 30.07% | -38.28% | -0.35% | 69.27% | 34.57% | 8.84% | 57.43% |
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 22.09% | 24.61% | 21.63% | 56.02% | -27.73% | 34.74% | 43.62% | 49.86% | -1.68% | 34.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between BST and XLK is 0.80, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.80 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.79 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.81 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 2014 | 0.74 |
The correlation between BST and XLK has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.74 to 0.81 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
BST vs. XLK — Risk / Return Rank
BST
XLK
BST vs. XLK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). 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 | XLK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.07 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.23 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.04 | 2.16 | -0.12 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.79 | 5.85 | -0.06 |
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Drawdowns
BST vs. XLK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BST drawdown since its inception was -47.72%, smaller than the maximum XLK drawdown of -82.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BST and XLK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BST | XLK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -47.72% | -82.05% | +34.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.31% | -15.92% | +0.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.37% | -25.66% | +2.29% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -45.17% | -33.56% | -11.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.72% | -33.56% | -14.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.30% | -11.43% | +3.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.88% | -34.80% | +21.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.37% | 5.86% | -0.49% |
Volatility
BST vs. XLK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) is 8.49%, while State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has a volatility of 9.58%. This indicates that BST experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XLK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BST | XLK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.49% | 9.58% | -1.09% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.26% | 21.81% | -2.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.03% | 25.59% | -3.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.03% | 25.75% | -1.72% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.99% | 24.90% | +1.09% |
Dividends
BST vs. XLK - Dividend Comparison
BST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.08%, more than XLK's 0.45% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BST BlackRock Science and Technology Trust | 9.08% | 10.36% | 8.21% | 8.91% | 10.57% | 5.38% | 3.85% | 10.52% | 6.41% | 4.80% | 6.69% | 6.93% |
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.45% | 0.54% | 0.66% | 0.76% | 1.04% | 0.65% | 0.92% | 1.16% | 1.60% | 1.37% | 1.74% | 1.79% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BST and XLK have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XLK has higher volatility (9.58%) compared to BST (8.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BST dropped -47.72% vs XLK's -82.05%.
BST currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.42 vs 1.34), 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.
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