- CUSIP
- 02629W106
- Issuer
- American Funds
- Inception Date
- Feb 1, 2011
- Category
- Global Allocation
- Index Tracked
- No Index (Active)
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Multi-Asset
Share Price Chart
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Performance
GBLAX Performance Chart
American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A (GBLAX) is up 6.4% since the beginning of the year. GBLAX is currently trading at $43 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of GBLAX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,332.
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Returns By Period
American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A (GBLAX) has returned 6.38% so far this year and 17.04% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, GBLAX has returned 7.02% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.66% annually.
American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A
- 1D
- -0.26%
- 1M
- 2.25%
- YTD
- 6.38%
- 6M
- 6.86%
- 1Y
- 17.04%
- 3Y*
- 12.66%
- 5Y*
- 5.90%
- 10Y*
- 7.02%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.74%
- 1M
- 4.90%
- YTD
- 10.35%
- 6M
- 10.28%
- 1Y
- 26.52%
- 3Y*
- 20.83%
- 5Y*
- 12.30%
- 10Y*
- 13.66%
GBLAX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Feb 1, 2011, GBLAX's average daily return is +0.03%, while the average monthly return is +0.57%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 10.2 years.
Historically, 63% of months were positive and 37% were negative. The best month was Nov 2020 with a return of +8.6%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -8.7%. The longest winning streak lasted 11 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, GBLAX closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +4.9%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -6.8%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.46% | 2.47% | -4.94% | 4.62% | 2.15% | -0.26% | 6.38% | ||||||
| 2025 | 3.03% | 0.61% | -1.82% | 0.75% | 3.26% | 3.54% | 0.10% | 1.89% | 1.93% | 1.46% | 1.22% | 0.07% | 17.12% |
| 2024 | -0.36% | 1.46% | 2.48% | -2.85% | 3.05% | 0.34% | 2.43% | 2.58% | 1.83% | -2.88% | 0.65% | -2.09% | 6.56% |
| 2023 | 4.83% | -3.38% | 2.74% | 1.63% | -1.72% | 3.51% | 1.73% | -2.44% | -3.64% | -1.39% | 6.82% | 4.88% | 13.68% |
| 2022 | -2.68% | -2.32% | -0.46% | -6.40% | 1.68% | -6.93% | 3.85% | -3.53% | -7.04% | 4.21% | 6.89% | -1.37% | -14.25% |
| 2021 | -0.43% | 0.83% | 1.24% | 2.48% | 1.55% | 0.32% | 0.66% | 1.51% | -2.75% | 2.64% | -2.03% | 2.96% | 9.18% |
Benchmark Metrics
American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A has an annualized alpha of 0.04%, beta of 0.53, and R2 of 0.82 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since February 02, 2011.
- This fund participated in 68.62% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 55.69% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
- Beta of 0.53 indicates this fund moves significantly less than S&P 500 Index - a genuinely defensive profile with reduced participation in both market rallies and downturns.
- Alpha
- 0.04%
- Beta
- 0.53
- R²
- 0.82
- Upside Capture
- 55.69%
- Downside Capture
- 68.62%
Expense Ratio
GBLAX has an expense ratio of 0.80%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
GBLAX ranks 54 for risk / return — on par with similar mutual funds. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A (GBLAX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
| GBLAX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.17 | 2.24 | -0.07 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.10 | 3.07 | +0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.41 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.63 | 2.93 | -0.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.58 | 13.52 | -1.94 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Dividends
Dividend History
American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A provided a 5.99% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $2.56 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $2.56 | $2.56 | $2.03 | $0.59 | $0.49 | $2.32 | $0.46 | $0.64 | $0.69 | $1.02 | $0.59 | $0.92 |
Dividend yield | 5.99% | 6.34% | 5.53% | 1.61% | 1.52% | 6.02% | 1.24% | 1.87% | 2.30% | 3.15% | 2.00% | 3.28% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.30 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.20 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.88 | $2.56 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.22 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.19 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.50 | $2.03 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.19 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.59 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.21 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.49 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.16 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.84 | $2.32 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A was 23.36%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 95 trading sessions.
The current American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A drawdown is 0.26%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
COVID crash2020 | -23.36%Mar 2020 | 1mo 9d | 4mo 16d | 5mo 25dFeb 2020 - Aug 2020 |
Bear market2022 | -22.55%Oct 2022 | 11mo 6d | 1y 4mo | 2y 3moNov 2021 - Mar 2024 |
2011 correction2011 | -14.15%Oct 2011 | 5mo 3d | 11mo 9d | 1y 4moMay 2011 - Sep 2012 |
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018 | -13.28%Dec 2018 | 10mo 29d | 6mo 11d | 1y 5moJan 2018 - Jul 2019 |
2016 correction2016 | -12.51%Jan 2016 | 8mo 7d | 5mo 24d | 1y 1moMay 2015 - Jul 2016 |
Drawdown Indicators
| GBLAX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.36% | -56.78% | +33.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.74% | -9.10% | +2.36% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.90% | -18.90% | +10.00% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.55% | -25.43% | +2.88% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -23.36% | -33.92% | +10.56% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.26% | -0.74% | +0.48% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.69% | -10.72% | +7.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.53% | 1.97% | -0.44% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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