BALFX vs. FBALX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX).
BALFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Mar 15, 2001. FBALX is managed by Fidelity. It was launched on Nov 6, 1986.
Performance
BALFX vs. FBALX - Performance Comparison
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BALFX vs. FBALX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALFX American Funds American Balanced Fund | -2.88% | 18.40% | 14.91% | 13.62% | -12.19% | 15.69% | 10.81% | 18.50% | -3.54% | 14.63% |
FBALX Fidelity Balanced Fund | -3.70% | 15.11% | 16.09% | 20.31% | -18.29% | 18.27% | 22.45% | 24.40% | -3.98% | 16.52% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BALFX achieves a -2.88% return, which is significantly higher than FBALX's -3.70% return. Over the past 10 years, BALFX has underperformed FBALX with an annualized return of 8.93%, while FBALX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.51% annualized return.
BALFX
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -6.82%
- YTD
- -2.88%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 15.28%
- 3Y*
- 13.46%
- 5Y*
- 8.01%
- 10Y*
- 8.93%
FBALX
- 1D
- -0.16%
- 1M
- -5.81%
- YTD
- -3.70%
- 6M
- -0.91%
- 1Y
- 13.97%
- 3Y*
- 12.91%
- 5Y*
- 7.44%
- 10Y*
- 10.51%
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BALFX vs. FBALX - Expense Ratio Comparison
BALFX has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is higher than FBALX's 0.51% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
BALFX vs. FBALX — Risk / Return Rank
BALFX
FBALX
BALFX vs. FBALX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX). 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 | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.42 | 1.22 | +0.20 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.08 | 1.78 | +0.30 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.27 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.99 | 1.61 | +0.38 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.46 | 7.56 | +0.90 |
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 | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.42 | 1.22 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 | 0.62 | +0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 | 0.83 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.65 | 0.78 | -0.14 |
Correlation
The correlation between BALFX and FBALX is 0.95, 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. FBALX - Dividend Comparison
BALFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.48%, more than FBALX's 5.90% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALFX American Funds American Balanced Fund | 8.48% | 8.22% | 7.14% | 2.02% | 2.24% | 4.24% | 4.31% | 3.44% | 5.30% | 4.66% | 4.18% | 5.54% |
FBALX Fidelity Balanced Fund | 5.90% | 5.69% | 5.67% | 2.28% | 8.06% | 9.66% | 5.90% | 4.24% | 10.99% | 7.90% | 3.07% | 7.70% |
Drawdowns
BALFX vs. FBALX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BALFX drawdown since its inception was -40.20%, smaller than the maximum FBALX drawdown of -43.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALFX and FBALX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BALFX | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.20% | -43.57% | +3.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.34% | -8.14% | +0.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.81% | -22.89% | +4.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.34% | -26.68% | +4.34% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.03% | -6.47% | -0.56% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.18% | -4.39% | +0.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.73% | 1.74% | -0.01% |
Volatility
BALFX vs. FBALX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) is 3.28%, while Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX) has a volatility of 3.50%. This indicates that BALFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FBALX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BALFX | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.28% | 3.50% | -0.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.75% | 6.47% | +0.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.10% | 11.80% | -0.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.41% | 12.15% | -1.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.61% | 12.73% | -2.12% |