BALFX vs. PRPFX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and Permanent Portfolio Permanent Portfolio (PRPFX).
BALFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Mar 15, 2001. PRPFX is managed by Permanent Portfolio. It was launched on Nov 30, 1982.
Performance
BALFX vs. PRPFX - Performance Comparison
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BALFX vs. PRPFX - 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% |
PRPFX Permanent Portfolio Permanent Portfolio | 2.72% | 28.78% | 19.36% | 11.96% | -5.48% | 10.87% | 18.80% | 19.20% | -7.02% | 11.42% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BALFX achieves a -2.88% return, which is significantly lower than PRPFX's 2.72% return. Over the past 10 years, BALFX has underperformed PRPFX with an annualized return of 8.93%, while PRPFX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.84% 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%
PRPFX
- 1D
- -0.31%
- 1M
- -7.34%
- YTD
- 2.72%
- 6M
- 8.96%
- 1Y
- 25.00%
- 3Y*
- 19.97%
- 5Y*
- 12.20%
- 10Y*
- 10.84%
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BALFX vs. PRPFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
BALFX has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is lower than PRPFX's 0.81% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
BALFX vs. PRPFX — Risk / Return Rank
BALFX
PRPFX
BALFX vs. PRPFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and Permanent Portfolio Permanent Portfolio (PRPFX). 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 | PRPFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.42 | 1.86 | -0.44 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.08 | 2.31 | -0.23 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.40 | -0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.99 | 3.07 | -1.08 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.46 | 11.17 | -2.71 |
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 | PRPFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.42 | 1.86 | -0.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 | 1.11 | -0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 | 1.03 | -0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.65 | 0.80 | -0.15 |
Correlation
The correlation between BALFX and PRPFX is 0.66, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
BALFX vs. PRPFX - Dividend Comparison
BALFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.48%, more than PRPFX's 3.18% 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% |
PRPFX Permanent Portfolio Permanent Portfolio | 3.18% | 3.27% | 1.86% | 1.39% | 1.58% | 2.05% | 5.38% | 4.69% | 6.90% | 2.14% | 0.95% | 7.06% |
Drawdowns
BALFX vs. PRPFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BALFX drawdown since its inception was -40.20%, which is greater than PRPFX's maximum drawdown of -27.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALFX and PRPFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BALFX | PRPFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.20% | -27.16% | -13.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.34% | -8.10% | +0.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.81% | -15.49% | -3.32% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.34% | -20.84% | -1.50% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.03% | -8.10% | +1.07% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.18% | -3.52% | -0.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.73% | 2.22% | -0.49% |
Volatility
BALFX vs. PRPFX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) is 3.28%, while Permanent Portfolio Permanent Portfolio (PRPFX) has a volatility of 3.59%. This indicates that BALFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PRPFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BALFX | PRPFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.28% | 3.59% | -0.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.75% | 11.32% | -4.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.10% | 13.77% | -2.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.41% | 11.04% | -0.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.61% | 10.57% | +0.04% |