iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ) belongs to the Nasdaq-100 category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BALQ. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BALQ
BALQ charges 0.35% annually. There are 7 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.10%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Portfolio Nasdaq 100 ETF | 0.10% | — | Jun 2026 | BALQ vs QNDX | |
| Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | 0.15% | 100.59B | Oct 2020 | BALQ vs QQQM | |
| Invesco QQQ ETF | 0.18% | 481.14B | Mar 1999 | BALQ vs QQQ | |
| Invesco ESG NASDAQ 100 ETF | 0.20% | 206.73M | Oct 2021 | BALQ vs QQMG | |
| iShares Nasdaq-100 ex Top 30 ETF | 0.20% | 28.66M | Oct 2024 | BALQ vs QNXT |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BALQ
Among 46 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 97.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April | 97 | 210.48M | Mar 2020 | BALQ vs NAPR | |
| PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April | 97 | 25.92M | Dec 2024 | BALQ vs PQAP | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 95 | 568.10M | Mar 2021 | BALQ vs QMAR | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 94 | 2.84M | Jun 2025 | BALQ vs QB | |
| First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF | 91 | 938.31M | Jan 2014 | BALQ vs FTQI |
Top Performing BALQ Alternatives (YTD)
BALQ is at 17.54% YTD. There are 3 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 43.02%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF | 43.02% | 81.18M | May 2021 | BALQ vs QQQA | |
| First Trust NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index Fun... | 32.07% | 4.80B | Apr 2006 | BALQ vs QTEC | |
| Pacer Nasdaq 100 Top 50 Cash Cows Growth Leaders E... | 25.34% | 20.29M | Aug 2024 | BALQ vs QQQG | |
| Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares | 16.12% | 1.40B | Mar 2012 | BALQ vs QQQE | |
| Invesco ESG NASDAQ 100 ETF | 16.09% | 206.73M | Oct 2021 | BALQ vs QQMG |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BALQ
BALQ has 20.86% 1-year volatility. There are 45 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.84%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April | 3.84% | — | Apr 2024 | BALQ vs QCAP | |
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April | 4.48% | 210.48M | Mar 2020 | BALQ vs NAPR | |
| PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April | 5.15% | 25.92M | Dec 2024 | BALQ vs PQAP | |
| FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July | 5.54% | — | Jul 2024 | BALQ vs QCJL | |
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly | 5.58% | 165.79M | Jun 2024 | BALQ vs QBUF |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BALQ
Among 46 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -1.79%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April | -1.79% | 210.48M | Mar 2020 | BALQ vs NAPR | |
| FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April | -2.10% | — | Apr 2024 | BALQ vs QCAP | |
| PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April | -2.15% | 25.92M | Dec 2024 | BALQ vs PQAP | |
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly | -2.31% | 165.79M | Jun 2024 | BALQ vs QBUF | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | -3.21% | 568.10M | Mar 2021 | BALQ vs QMAR |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, SOXX and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $894B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.95% | 97.69B | May 2020 | BALQ vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 1 | -26.71% | 46.82B | Jan 2024 | BALQ vs IBIT | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 91 | 76.35% | 47.60B | Jul 2001 | BALQ vs SOXX | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 66 | 10.73% | 894.38B | May 2000 | BALQ vs IVV | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 88 | 12.80% | 42.05B | Jun 2014 | BALQ vs DGRO | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 15 | -1.19% | 42.18B | Jul 2002 | BALQ vs TLT | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 26 | -21.78% | 28.37B | Apr 2006 | BALQ vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 21 | -7.85% | 60.94B | Jan 2005 | BALQ vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 72 | 20.58% | 83.34B | May 2000 | BALQ vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 63 | 11.23% | 33.36B | Mar 2008 | BALQ vs ACWI |
Often Compared With BALQ
Investors most often compare BALQ with GPIQ, JEPQ, QQQI. These 20 comparison targets span 10 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BALQ with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BALQ with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BALQ with funds that move differently
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BALQ.
Explore BALQ Diversifiers