BALCX vs. FAGAX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C (BALCX) and Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund Class A (FAGAX).
BALCX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jul 26, 1975. FAGAX is managed by Fidelity. It was launched on Sep 3, 1996.
Performance
BALCX vs. FAGAX - Performance Comparison
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BALCX vs. FAGAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALCX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C | -3.02% | 17.58% | 14.00% | 12.97% | -12.77% | 14.87% | 10.06% | 17.66% | -4.09% | 14.02% |
FAGAX Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund Class A | -13.66% | 22.17% | 38.71% | 45.14% | -38.40% | 11.31% | 68.60% | 40.26% | 14.87% | 34.66% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BALCX achieves a -3.02% return, which is significantly higher than FAGAX's -13.66% return. Over the past 10 years, BALCX has underperformed FAGAX with an annualized return of 8.21%, while FAGAX has yielded a comparatively higher 18.64% annualized return.
BALCX
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -6.86%
- YTD
- -3.02%
- 6M
- 0.47%
- 1Y
- 14.48%
- 3Y*
- 12.70%
- 5Y*
- 7.28%
- 10Y*
- 8.21%
FAGAX
- 1D
- -1.17%
- 1M
- -9.95%
- YTD
- -13.66%
- 6M
- -12.33%
- 1Y
- 18.39%
- 3Y*
- 22.90%
- 5Y*
- 7.34%
- 10Y*
- 18.64%
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BALCX vs. FAGAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
BALCX has a 1.31% expense ratio, which is higher than FAGAX's 1.04% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
BALCX vs. FAGAX — Risk / Return Rank
BALCX
FAGAX
BALCX vs. FAGAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C (BALCX) and Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund Class A (FAGAX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| BALCX | FAGAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.35 | 0.75 | +0.60 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.98 | 1.19 | +0.79 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.17 | +0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 0.93 | +0.95 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.95 | 3.40 | +4.55 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BALCX | FAGAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.35 | 0.75 | +0.60 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 | 0.30 | +0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.78 | 0.79 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.58 | 0.45 | +0.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between BALCX and FAGAX is 0.86, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
BALCX vs. FAGAX - Dividend Comparison
BALCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.83%, more than FAGAX's 4.76% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALCX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C | 7.83% | 7.61% | 6.37% | 1.54% | 1.53% | 3.60% | 3.68% | 2.79% | 4.67% | 4.17% | 3.51% | 4.81% |
FAGAX Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund Class A | 4.76% | 4.11% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 10.19% | 5.45% | 4.10% | 11.99% | 7.67% | 15.44% | 11.12% |
Drawdowns
BALCX vs. FAGAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BALCX drawdown since its inception was -40.88%, smaller than the maximum FAGAX drawdown of -65.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALCX and FAGAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BALCX | FAGAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.88% | -65.24% | +24.36% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.36% | -16.19% | +8.83% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.22% | -44.70% | +25.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.38% | -44.70% | +22.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.08% | -16.19% | +9.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.48% | -15.27% | +10.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.74% | 4.43% | -2.69% |
Volatility
BALCX vs. FAGAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C (BALCX) is 3.28%, while Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund Class A (FAGAX) has a volatility of 6.78%. This indicates that BALCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FAGAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BALCX | FAGAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.28% | 6.78% | -3.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.75% | 14.04% | -7.29% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.09% | 24.01% | -12.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.41% | 24.80% | -14.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.61% | 23.78% | -13.17% |