American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A (GBLAX) belongs to the Global Allocation category. Below you'll find alternative mutual funds from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with GBLAX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to GBLAX
GBLAX charges 0.80% annually. There are 30 mutual funds in the Global Allocation category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.02%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMO Implementation Fund | 0.02% | — | Feb 2012 | GBLAX vs GIMFX | |
| Goldman Sachs Growth Strategy Portfolio | 0.19% | — | Jan 1998 | GBLAX vs GGSIX | |
| Voya Global Perspectives Portfolio | 0.20% | — | Apr 2013 | GBLAX vs IPIRX | |
| MH Elite Select Portfolio of Funds Fund | 0.21% | — | Apr 2006 | GBLAX vs MHESX | |
| Janus Henderson Global Allocation Fund - Moderate | 0.25% | — | Dec 2005 | GBLAX vs JNSMX |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GBLAX
GBLAX has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 45. There are 58 mutual funds in the Global Allocation category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 97.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornburg Investment Income Builder Fund | 97 | — | Dec 2002 | GBLAX vs TIBAX | |
| GMO Benchmark-Free Fund | 94 | — | Jun 2011 | GBLAX vs GBFFX | |
| Principal Diversified Select Real Asset Fund | 94 | — | Jul 2019 | GBLAX vs PDSYX | |
| GMO Implementation Fund | 94 | — | Feb 2012 | GBLAX vs GIMFX | |
| GMO Benchmark-Free Allocation Fund | 93 | — | Jul 2003 | GBLAX vs GBMFX |
Top Performing GBLAX Alternatives (YTD)
GBLAX is at 5.83% YTD. There are 62 mutual funds in the Global Allocation category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 23.98%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund | 23.98% | — | Jun 2007 | GBLAX vs CHW | |
| Calamos Global Total Return Fund | 23.80% | — | Oct 2005 | GBLAX vs CGO | |
| Thornburg Investment Income Builder Fund | 16.42% | — | Dec 2002 | GBLAX vs TIBAX | |
| Calamos Global Opportunities Fund | 16.01% | — | Sep 1996 | GBLAX vs CVLOX | |
| Leuthold Global Fund | 14.41% | — | Apr 2008 | GBLAX vs GLBIX |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GBLAX
GBLAX has 8.60% 1-year volatility. There are 27 mutual funds in the Global Allocation category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.01%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Diversified Select Real Asset Fund | 3.01% | — | Jul 2019 | GBLAX vs PDSYX | |
| PFG BNY Mellon Diversifier Strategy Fund | 4.42% | — | Dec 2017 | GBLAX vs PFADX | |
| LoCorr Macro Strategies Fund Class I | 5.63% | — | Mar 2011 | GBLAX vs LFMIX | |
| Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund | 5.88% | — | Sep 2011 | GBLAX vs NRIIX | |
| Pioneer Multi-Asset Income Fund | 5.88% | — | Dec 2011 | GBLAX vs PMFYX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GBLAX
GBLAX has a 1-year max drawdown of -6.74%. There are 36 mutual funds in the Global Allocation category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -1.98%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Diversified Select Real Asset Fund | -1.98% | — | Jul 2019 | GBLAX vs PDSYX | |
| LoCorr Macro Strategies Fund Class I | -2.60% | — | Mar 2011 | GBLAX vs LFMIX | |
| PFG BNY Mellon Diversifier Strategy Fund | -3.63% | — | Dec 2017 | GBLAX vs PFADX | |
| Pioneer Multi-Asset Income Fund | -4.08% | — | Dec 2011 | GBLAX vs PMFYX | |
| Morningstar Global Income Fund | -4.38% | — | Nov 2018 | GBLAX vs MSTGX |
Other Mutual Funds from American Funds
The 10 most viewed American Funds mutual funds shown here include ABALX, AIVSX, AWSHX and span 7 categories.
Often Compared With GBLAX
Investors most often compare GBLAX with VGWAX, RAPZX, HRLYX. These 8 comparison targets span 2 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares | Diversified Portfolio | 82 | 10.23% | 3.20B | Nov 2017 | GBLAX vs VGWAX | |
| Cohen & Steers Real Assets Fund Inc | Global Allocation | 33 | 9.90% | — | Jan 2012 | GBLAX vs RAPZX | |
| Hartford Real Asset Fund | Global Allocation | 89 | 9.34% | — | May 2010 | GBLAX vs HRLYX | |
| Allspring Absolute Return Fund | Global Allocation | 86 | 12.70% | — | Feb 2012 | GBLAX vs WARAX | |
| Principal Diversified Real Asset Fund | Global Allocation | 73 | 10.48% | — | Mar 2010 | GBLAX vs PDRDX | |
| Wilmington Real Asset Fund | Global Allocation | 72 | 12.17% | — | Jun 2003 | GBLAX vs WMRIX | |
| MH Elite Income Fund of Funds | Global Allocation | 32 | 2.09% | — | Aug 2011 | GBLAX vs MHEIX | |
| SA Worldwide Moderate Growth Fund | Global Allocation | 93 | 10.28% | — | Jun 2015 | GBLAX vs SAWMX |
Compare GBLAX with Any Fund or Stock
Compare GBLAX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair GBLAX with funds that move differently
American Funds Global Balanced Fund Class A alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GBLAX.
Explore GBLAX Diversifiers