BALFX vs. VT
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT).
BALFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Mar 15, 2001. VT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap Index. It was launched on Jun 24, 2008.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: BALFX or VT.
Key characteristics
| BALFX | VT | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 6.03% | 8.55% |
| 1Y Return | 16.89% | 22.14% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 4.38% | 5.42% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 8.35% | 10.95% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 8.02% | 8.73% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.12 | 1.99 |
| Daily Std Dev | 8.09% | 11.54% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.30% | -50.27% |
| Current Drawdown | -0.12% | 0.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between BALFX and VT is 0.93, 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. VT - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, BALFX achieves a 6.03% return, which is significantly lower than VT's 8.55% return. Over the past 10 years, BALFX has underperformed VT with an annualized return of 8.02%, while VT has yielded a comparatively higher 8.73% 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. VT - Expense Ratio Comparison
BALFX has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is higher than VT's 0.07% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
BALFX vs. VT - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT). 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. VT - Dividend Comparison
BALFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.21%, more than VT's 2.05% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALFX American Funds American Balanced Fund | 2.21% | 2.31% | 2.24% | 4.24% | 4.31% | 3.94% | 5.97% | 5.30% | 4.15% | 5.90% | 8.02% | 1.51% |
VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | 2.05% | 2.08% | 2.20% | 1.82% | 1.66% | 2.32% | 2.53% | 2.11% | 2.39% | 2.45% | 2.44% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
BALFX vs. VT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BALFX drawdown since its inception was -39.30%, smaller than the maximum VT drawdown of -50.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALFX and VT. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
BALFX vs. VT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund (BALFX) is 2.30%, while Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) has a volatility of 3.19%. This indicates that BALFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.