NHYM vs. BESF

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

NHYM (Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF) and BESF (Bastion Energy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NHYM is a High Yield Muni fund actively managed by Nuveen, while BESF is a Energy Equities fund actively managed by Bastion. Both are actively managed. At a correlation of -0.18, they often move in opposite directions. NHYM charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.80%/yr for BESF.

Performance

NHYM vs. BESF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF (NHYM) and Bastion Energy ETF (BESF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, NHYM achieves a 2.83% return, which is significantly lower than BESF's 18.93% return.

NHYM

• 1D: 0.28%
• 1M: 1.10%
• YTD: 2.83%
• 6M: 3.37%
• 1Y: 8.84%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BESF

• 1D: 1.00%
• 1M: -2.84%
• YTD: 18.93%
• 6M: 21.99%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

NHYM vs. BESF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
NHYM Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF	2.83%	5.08%
BESF Bastion Energy ETF	18.93%	41.15%

Correlation

The correlation between NHYM and BESF is -0.18, 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 (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 5, 2025	-0.18

Return for Risk

NHYM vs. BESF — Risk / Return Rank

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

NHYM

NHYM Risk / Return Rank: 62
NHYM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 59
NHYM Sortino Ratio Rank: 66
NHYM Omega Ratio Rank: 68
NHYM Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
NHYM Martin Ratio Rank: 53

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.

NHYM vs. BESF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF (NHYM) and Bastion Energy ETF (BESF). 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.

	NHYM	BESF	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.02	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.13	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.18	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	9.32	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	NHYM	BESF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.02	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.77	2.83	-2.07

Drawdowns

NHYM vs. BESF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum NHYM drawdown since its inception was -6.11%, smaller than the maximum BESF drawdown of -9.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NHYM and BESF.

Drawdown Indicators

	NHYM	BESF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-6.11%	-9.89%	+3.78%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.77%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-6.52%	+6.52%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.74%	-2.43%	+0.69%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.95%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	NHYM	BESF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.34%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.65%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.39%	24.37%	-19.98%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	5.94%	24.37%	-18.43%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.94%	24.37%	-18.43%

NHYM vs. BESF - Expense Ratio Comparison

NHYM has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is lower than BESF's 0.80% expense ratio.

Dividends

NHYM vs. BESF - Dividend Comparison

NHYM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.53%, less than BESF's 5.72% yield.

Position	TTM	2025
BESF Bastion Energy ETF	5.72%	6.39%
NHYM Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF	4.53%	4.06%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both NHYM and BESF in my portfolio?

NHYM and BESF have a correlation of -0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, NHYM or BESF?

On fees, NHYM is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, NHYM or BESF?

NHYM is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for BESF.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, NHYM or BESF?

BESF has the higher dividend yield at 5.72%, compared with 4.53% for NHYM.

What is the main difference between NHYM and BESF?

NHYM is categorized as High Yield Muni, while BESF is Energy Equities. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and Bastion. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for NHYM and 0.80% for BESF.