MDST vs. BKUI

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

MDST (Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF) and BKUI (BNY Mellon Ultra Short Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - MDST is a Energy Equities fund actively managed by Westwood, while BKUI is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by BNY Mellon. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, MDST returned 17.62% vs 4.32% for BKUI. At a correlation of -0.07, they often move in opposite directions. MDST charges 0.80%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for BKUI.

Performance

MDST vs. BKUI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) and BNY Mellon Ultra Short Income ETF (BKUI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, MDST achieves a 14.94% return, which is significantly higher than BKUI's 1.42% return.

MDST

• 1D: 0.14%
• 1M: -0.74%
• YTD: 14.94%
• 6M: 14.77%
• 1Y: 17.62%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BKUI

• 1D: -0.01%
• 1M: 0.33%
• YTD: 1.42%
• 6M: 1.74%
• 1Y: 4.32%
• 3Y*: 5.21%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

MDST vs. BKUI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
MDST Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF	14.94%	7.09%	17.29%
BKUI BNY Mellon Ultra Short Income ETF	1.42%	4.93%	4.20%

Correlation

The correlation between MDST and BKUI is -0.22, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.22
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 10, 2024	-0.07

The correlation between MDST and BKUI shifts across timeframes, from -0.22 (1 year) to -0.07 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

MDST vs. BKUI — Risk / Return Rank

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

MDST

MDST Risk / Return Rank: 44
MDST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 41
MDST Sortino Ratio Rank: 42
MDST Omega Ratio Rank: 41
MDST Calmar Ratio Rank: 53
MDST Martin Ratio Rank: 45

BKUI

BKUI Risk / Return Rank: 99
BKUI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
BKUI Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
BKUI Omega Ratio Rank: 100
BKUI Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
BKUI Martin Ratio Rank: 99

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.

MDST vs. BKUI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) and BNY Mellon Ultra Short Income ETF (BKUI). 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.

	MDST	BKUI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.47	10.52	-9.06
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.13	25.25	-23.12
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.27	6.02	-4.76
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.63	32.56	-29.93
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.46	230.94	-223.48
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

MDST vs. BKUI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current MDST Sharpe Ratio is 1.47, which is lower than the BKUI Sharpe Ratio of 10.52. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of MDST and BKUI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	MDST	BKUI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.47	10.52	-9.06
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.16	6.08	-4.92

Drawdowns

MDST vs. BKUI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum MDST drawdown since its inception was -14.19%, which is greater than BKUI's maximum drawdown of -1.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MDST and BKUI.

Drawdown Indicators

	MDST	BKUI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.19%	-1.72%	-12.47%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.74%	-0.13%	-6.61%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-0.25%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.53%	-0.01%	-3.52%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.17%	-0.27%	-1.90%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.37%	0.02%	+2.35%

Volatility

MDST vs. BKUI - Volatility Comparison

Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) has a higher volatility of 4.87% compared to BNY Mellon Ultra Short Income ETF (BKUI) at 0.15%. This indicates that MDST's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BKUI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	MDST	BKUI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.87%	0.15%	+4.72%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	8.36%	0.31%	+8.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.12%	0.41%	+11.71%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.11%	0.59%	+15.52%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.11%	0.59%	+15.52%

MDST vs. BKUI - Expense Ratio Comparison

MDST has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than BKUI's 0.12% expense ratio.

Dividends

MDST vs. BKUI - Dividend Comparison

MDST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.33%, more than BKUI's 4.21% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
BKUI BNY Mellon Ultra Short Income ETF	4.21%	4.48%	5.11%	4.29%	1.82%	0.22%
MDST Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF	9.33%	10.22%	6.60%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both MDST and BKUI in my portfolio?

MDST and BKUI have a correlation of -0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, MDST or BKUI?

MDST has higher volatility (4.87%) compared to BKUI (0.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MDST dropped -14.19% vs BKUI's -1.72%.

Which ETF is better, MDST or BKUI?

On 1-year performance, MDST leads with 17.62% vs 4.32% for BKUI. On fees, BKUI is cheaper at 0.12% per year. On volatility, BKUI has been the lower-risk option at 0.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, MDST or BKUI?

Over the 1-year period, MDST has performed better with a 17.62% return vs 4.32%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, MDST or BKUI?

BKUI is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for MDST.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, MDST or BKUI?

MDST has the higher dividend yield at 9.33%, compared with 4.21% for BKUI.

What is the main difference between MDST and BKUI?

MDST is categorized as Energy Equities, while BKUI is Ultrashort Bond. They also come from different issuers: Westwood and BNY Mellon. Their fees differ too: 0.80% for MDST and 0.12% for BKUI.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BKUI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (10.52 vs 1.47), 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.