BALFX vs. ANWPX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and American Funds New Perspective Fund Class A (ANWPX).
BALFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Mar 15, 2001. ANWPX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Mar 13, 1973.
Performance
BALFX vs. ANWPX - Performance Comparison
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BALFX vs. ANWPX - 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% |
ANWPX American Funds New Perspective Fund Class A | -5.30% | 21.33% | 16.76% | 24.63% | -25.92% | 17.64% | 33.42% | 30.10% | -5.99% | 28.91% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BALFX achieves a -1.17% return, which is significantly higher than ANWPX's -5.30% return. Over the past 10 years, BALFX has underperformed ANWPX with an annualized return of 9.12%, while ANWPX has yielded a comparatively higher 12.32% 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%
ANWPX
- 1D
- 3.10%
- 1M
- -6.93%
- YTD
- -5.30%
- 6M
- -3.65%
- 1Y
- 16.52%
- 3Y*
- 14.90%
- 5Y*
- 7.06%
- 10Y*
- 12.32%
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BALFX vs. ANWPX - Expense Ratio Comparison
BALFX has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is lower than ANWPX's 0.72% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
BALFX vs. ANWPX — Risk / Return Rank
BALFX
ANWPX
BALFX vs. ANWPX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and American Funds New Perspective Fund Class A (ANWPX). 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 | ANWPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.55 | 1.01 | +0.54 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.27 | 1.55 | +0.73 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.21 | +0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.42 | 1.42 | +0.99 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.08 | 5.78 | +4.30 |
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 | ANWPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.55 | 1.01 | +0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.79 | 0.41 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 | 0.70 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.00 |
Correlation
The correlation between BALFX and ANWPX is 0.90, 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. ANWPX - Dividend Comparison
BALFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.34%, more than ANWPX's 6.94% 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% |
ANWPX American Funds New Perspective Fund Class A | 6.94% | 6.57% | 5.13% | 5.36% | 4.16% | 7.01% | 4.13% | 3.67% | 7.59% | 5.50% | 3.86% | 6.14% |
Drawdowns
BALFX vs. ANWPX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BALFX drawdown since its inception was -40.20%, smaller than the maximum ANWPX drawdown of -52.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALFX and ANWPX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BALFX | ANWPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.20% | -52.34% | +12.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.34% | -11.75% | +4.41% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.81% | -34.45% | +15.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.34% | -34.45% | +12.11% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.39% | -8.73% | +3.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.18% | -8.13% | +3.95% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.76% | 2.89% | -1.13% |
Volatility
BALFX vs. ANWPX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) is 3.89%, while American Funds New Perspective Fund Class A (ANWPX) has a volatility of 6.24%. This indicates that BALFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ANWPX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BALFX | ANWPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.89% | 6.24% | -2.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.97% | 10.32% | -3.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.21% | 17.02% | -5.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.44% | 17.15% | -6.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.62% | 17.77% | -7.15% |