HQL vs DSU

Comparison between abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL, ETF) and BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Inc (DSU, ETF).

5-Year PerformanceHQL has outperformed DSU, delivering a return of +7.1% compared to +6.8%

HQL vs DSU - Performance Comparison

Log

Key Characteristics

Financial metrics and valuation ratios

Metric	HQL(ETF)	DSU(ETF)
Net Assets	$604M	$606M
Max Drawdown	84.10%	78.64%
Sharpe Ratio	1.76	-0.05
5Y Beta	0.72	0.30
5Y Dividends CAGR	9.07%	10.20%

Net Assets

HQL

$604M

Winner

DSU

$606M

Max Drawdown

HQL

84.10%

Winner

DSU

78.64%

Sharpe Ratio

Winner

HQL

1.76

DSU

-0.05

5Y Beta

HQL

0.72

Winner

DSU

0.30

5Y Dividends CAGR

HQL

9.07%

Winner

DSU

10.20%

HQL vs DSU - Historical Returns

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Period	HQL	DSU
1 month	-3.25%	-1.14%
3 months	+5.30%	+2.64%
6 months	+5.52%	+1.40%
1 year	+47.84%	+3.02%
5 years(CAGR)	+7.12%	+6.78%
10 years(CAGR)	+9.67%	+7.84%
Max(CAGR)	+10.81%	+6.58%

HQL

-3.25%

Winner

DSU

-1.14%

Winner

HQL

+5.30%

DSU

+2.64%

Winner

HQL

+5.52%

DSU

+1.40%

Winner

HQL

+47.84%

DSU

+3.02%

5Y(CAGR)

Winner

HQL

+7.12%

DSU

+6.78%

10Y(CAGR)

Winner

HQL

+9.67%

DSU

+7.84%

Max(CAGR)

Winner

HQL

+10.81%

DSU

+6.58%

HQL vs DSU - Annual Returns (1999 - 2026)

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Year	HQL	DSU
2026	+7.85%	-0.06%
2025	+44.05%	+5.03%
2024	+8.82%	+11.83%
2023	+3.56%	+29.30%
2022	-19.50%	-15.84%
2021	+7.51%	+20.28%
2020	+24.15%	+2.25%
2019	+22.34%	+21.10%
2018	-16.96%	-10.89%
2017	+23.41%	+10.10%
2016	-17.36%	+21.39%
2015	+5.15%	-1.18%
2014	+32.12%	+0.25%
2013	+45.86%	-0.31%
2012	+35.62%	+18.15%
2011	+19.57%	+10.38%
2010	+19.26%	+15.57%
2009	+8.27%	+49.57%
2008	-27.57%	-48.60%
2007	+7.75%	-15.32%
2006	-6.90%	+28.62%
2005	+11.70%	-0.81%
2004	+8.55%	+10.41%
2003	+38.11%	+36.60%
2002	-35.94%	-2.25%
2001	+17.75%	+14.21%
2000	+21.69%	-1.28%
1999	+36.71%	-5.08%

HQL vs DSU Drawdown Comparison

The maximum drawdown for HQL was -62.49%, occurring on Oct 9, 2002. Recovery took 2992 trading sessions.

The maximum drawdown for DSU was -71.89%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 1366 trading sessions.

The current HQL drawdown is -5.10%. The current DSU drawdown is -2.32%.

Rank	HQL	DSU
#1	-62.49% Feb 18, 2000 - Jan 11, 2012	-71.89% Feb 1, 2007 - Jul 3, 2012
#2	-45.19% Jul 23, 2015 - Nov 27, 2020	-45.38% Feb 19, 2020 - Jan 15, 2021
#3	-38.82% Sep 7, 2021 - Sep 26, 2025	-30.49% May 16, 2002 - Mar 31, 2003
#4	-18.54% Feb 27, 2014 - Oct 28, 2014	-24.22% Dec 28, 2021 - Nov 24, 2023
#5	-16.72% May 15, 2013 - Jul 26, 2013	-20.52% Aug 16, 2000 - Jan 18, 2001
#6	-13.80% Oct 8, 2012 - Dec 11, 2012	-19.43% Jan 31, 2001 - Jan 7, 2002
#7	-11.50% Feb 19, 2021 - Jun 29, 2021	-18.01% Jan 21, 2004 - Oct 5, 2004
#8	-10.25% Oct 31, 2025 - Nov 24, 2025	-16.34% May 8, 2013 - Jul 22, 2016
#9	-10.01% Aug 2, 2013 - Sep 11, 2013	-14.59% Feb 14, 2025 - May 29, 2025
#10	-9.85% Jan 27, 2000 - Feb 7, 2000	-14.04% Dec 28, 2004 - Jul 14, 2005
#11	-9.07% Mar 20, 2015 - Jun 22, 2015	-13.43% Aug 24, 2018 - Apr 12, 2019
#12	-8.92% Nov 8, 1999 - Dec 21, 1999	-12.41% Jul 11, 2003 - Oct 8, 2003
#13	-8.61% Dec 18, 2014 - Jan 13, 2015	-10.74% Oct 4, 2012 - Jan 11, 2013
#14	-8.18% Sep 11, 2013 - Nov 25, 2013	-10.58% Sep 12, 2005 - Jan 12, 2006
#15	-8.13% Dec 12, 2014 - Dec 18, 2014	-10.00% Nov 5, 1999 - Jul 27, 2000

Correlation

Correlation between HQL and DSU is 0.93 which considered as a very strong positive correlation - the stocks move almost identically together.

0.93

-101

Dividend Comparison (2000 - 2026)

HQL vs DSU dividend yield comparison.

Year	HQL	DSU
2026	6.61%	5.09%
2025	10.85%	11.63%
2024	14.18%	11.01%
2023	9.44%	9.70%
2022	9.57%	7.56%
2021	8.79%	6.21%
2020	7.90%	7.96%
2019	8.03%	7.43%
2018	10.72%	8.41%
2017	8.25%	6.98%
2016	12.18%	6.60%
2015	11.84%	8.07%
2014	7.11%	7.96%
2013	6.80%	8.47%
2012	8.00%	7.77%
2011	12.38%	8.35%
2010	4.83%	9.08%
2009	4.45%	11.56%
2008	12.73%	24.45%
2007	8.83%	11.73%
2006	9.22%	8.86%
2005	13.15%	10.30%
2004	8.57%	9.46%
2003	7.99%	11.24%
2002	18.33%	14.34%
2001	14.60%	14.43%
2000	14.25%	7.55%