BALFX vs. URTH
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH).
BALFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Mar 15, 2001. URTH is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI World Index. It was launched on Jan 10, 2012.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: BALFX or URTH.
Key characteristics
| BALFX | URTH | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 16.59% | 21.17% |
| 1Y Return | 26.86% | 33.96% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 5.65% | 7.31% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 9.10% | 12.70% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 8.45% | 10.33% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 3.07 | 2.80 |
| Sortino Ratio | 4.36 | 3.79 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.59 | 1.51 |
| Calmar Ratio | 3.19 | 3.89 |
| Martin Ratio | 21.26 | 18.03 |
| Ulcer Index | 1.22% | 1.84% |
| Daily Std Dev | 8.46% | 11.85% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.30% | -34.01% |
| Current Drawdown | 0.00% | -0.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between BALFX and URTH is 0.82, 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.
Performance
BALFX vs. URTH - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, BALFX achieves a 16.59% return, which is significantly lower than URTH's 21.17% return. Over the past 10 years, BALFX has underperformed URTH with an annualized return of 8.45%, while URTH has yielded a comparatively higher 10.33% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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BALFX vs. URTH - Expense Ratio Comparison
BALFX has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is higher than URTH's 0.24% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
BALFX vs. URTH - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH). 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.
Dividends
BALFX vs. URTH - Dividend Comparison
BALFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.07%, more than URTH's 1.42% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALFX American Funds American Balanced Fund | 2.07% | 2.31% | 1.63% | 1.13% | 1.28% | 1.85% | 2.02% | 1.71% | 1.71% | 2.40% | 8.02% | 1.51% |
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF | 1.42% | 1.70% | 1.68% | 1.50% | 1.52% | 2.16% | 2.30% | 1.88% | 2.14% | 2.35% | 2.32% | 1.04% |
Drawdowns
BALFX vs. URTH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BALFX drawdown since its inception was -39.30%, which is greater than URTH's maximum drawdown of -34.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALFX and URTH. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
BALFX vs. URTH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) is 2.38%, while iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) has a volatility of 3.41%. This indicates that BALFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than URTH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.