BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
BME
New York Stock Exchange- -
USD
- -
- -
Capital Structure
FRC
•
in mil. unless spec.Working Capital
FRC
•
in mil. unless spec.Growth Rates
FRC
•
in mil. unless spec.Quarterly Revenue
FRC
•
in mil. unless spec.Quarterly Earnings Per Share
FRC
•
in mil. unless spec.Quarterly Dividends Per Share
FRC
•
in mil. unless spec.- CEO
- John Perlowski
- Sector
- Financial Services
- Industry
- Asset Management
- Address
- 100 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington NY United States of America 10001
- IPO Date
- Mar 29, 2005
- CIK
- 0001314966
- Website
- blackrock.com
- Similar Companies
- Business
- BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (NYSE: BME) is a closed-end equity mutual fund managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC that seeks total return through a combination of current income, current gains, and long-term capital appreciation. The Trust invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of companies engaged in the health sciences and related industries, including health care providers and businesses involved in researching, developing, producing, distributing, or delivering medical, dental, optical, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology products, supplies, equipment, or services, as well as support services to such companies; equity securities encompass common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depository receipts, and equity interests in real estate investment trusts owning hospitals. It also invests in equity derivatives with exposure to the health sciences industry and employs an options writing strategy, typically overwriting approximately 30% to 40% of its portfolio with single stock options to enhance returns. Launched on March 31, 2005, and headquartered at 50 Hudson Yards in New York, the perpetual closed-end fund focuses on the U.S. public equity markets within the health sciences sector, targeting large-cap companies such as Eli Lilly and Company, Boston Scientific Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie Inc., and UnitedHealth Group Inc., among its top holdings comprising nearly half of the portfolio. The Trust provides monthly distributions to shareholders, with a recent distribution rate of approximately 8.63% as of June 2025, supported by net investment income, option premiums, and portfolio gains, though distributions may include return of capital. In January 2025, the Trust's Board approved a new tender offer for up to 40% of its outstanding common shares at 99.5% of net asset value pursuant to an agreement with Saba Capital Management, L.P., which included standstill covenants, withdrawal of a shareholder proposal, and aligned voting on Board recommendations through the 2027 proxy season; this followed the cancellation of a prior quarterly tender offer and termination of the discount management program announced earlier that month. The fund maintained its monthly distribution at $0.2621 per share through mid-2025, signaling operational stability amid healthcare sector dynamics, with managed assets of approximately $508 million as of June 30, 2025. Recent portfolio adjustments included new positions in companies such as Bruker Corporation, Exelixis, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Summit Therapeutics Inc., and Kymera Therapeutics, Inc.