BALFX vs. AIVSX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and American Funds Investment Company of America Class A (AIVSX).
BALFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Mar 15, 2001. AIVSX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jan 1, 1934.
Performance
BALFX vs. AIVSX - Performance Comparison
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BALFX vs. AIVSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALFX American Funds American Balanced Fund | -1.17% | 18.40% | 14.91% | 13.62% | -12.19% | 15.69% | 10.81% | 18.50% | -3.54% | 14.63% |
AIVSX American Funds Investment Company of America Class A | -4.87% | 20.47% | 24.90% | 28.56% | -15.50% | 25.10% | 14.47% | 24.10% | -8.21% | 19.54% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BALFX achieves a -1.17% return, which is significantly higher than AIVSX's -4.87% return. Over the past 10 years, BALFX has underperformed AIVSX with an annualized return of 9.12%, while AIVSX has yielded a comparatively higher 12.88% annualized return.
BALFX
- 1D
- 1.76%
- 1M
- -4.90%
- YTD
- -1.17%
- 6M
- 2.02%
- 1Y
- 16.83%
- 3Y*
- 14.12%
- 5Y*
- 8.20%
- 10Y*
- 9.12%
AIVSX
- 1D
- 3.05%
- 1M
- -5.90%
- YTD
- -4.87%
- 6M
- -3.21%
- 1Y
- 17.66%
- 3Y*
- 20.05%
- 5Y*
- 12.46%
- 10Y*
- 12.88%
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BALFX vs. AIVSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
BALFX has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is higher than AIVSX's 0.57% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
BALFX vs. AIVSX — Risk / Return Rank
BALFX
AIVSX
BALFX vs. AIVSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and American Funds Investment Company of America Class A (AIVSX). 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.
| BALFX | AIVSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.55 | 1.04 | +0.51 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.27 | 1.59 | +0.69 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.23 | +0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.42 | 1.72 | +0.70 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.08 | 7.16 | +2.92 |
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
| BALFX | AIVSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.55 | 1.04 | +0.51 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.79 | 0.78 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 | 0.78 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.65 | 0.67 | -0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between BALFX and AIVSX is 0.97, 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
BALFX vs. AIVSX - Dividend Comparison
BALFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.34%, less than AIVSX's 11.17% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALFX American Funds American Balanced Fund | 8.34% | 8.22% | 7.14% | 2.02% | 2.24% | 4.24% | 4.31% | 3.44% | 5.30% | 4.66% | 4.18% | 5.54% |
AIVSX American Funds Investment Company of America Class A | 11.17% | 10.60% | 9.29% | 4.96% | 6.12% | 6.94% | 1.65% | 6.15% | 9.61% | 7.08% | 5.48% | 8.95% |
Drawdowns
BALFX vs. AIVSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BALFX drawdown since its inception was -40.20%, smaller than the maximum AIVSX drawdown of -50.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALFX and AIVSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BALFX | AIVSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.20% | -50.90% | +10.70% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.34% | -10.76% | +3.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.81% | -24.31% | +5.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.34% | -31.09% | +8.75% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.39% | -7.34% | +1.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.18% | -5.93% | +1.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.76% | 2.59% | -0.83% |
Volatility
BALFX vs. AIVSX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) is 3.89%, while American Funds Investment Company of America Class A (AIVSX) has a volatility of 5.75%. This indicates that BALFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AIVSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BALFX | AIVSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.89% | 5.75% | -1.86% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.97% | 9.93% | -2.96% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.21% | 17.56% | -6.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.44% | 15.96% | -5.52% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.62% | 16.55% | -5.93% |