BALQ vs. QEW

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

BALQ (iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF) and QEW (Invesco QQQ Equal Weight ETF) are both Nasdaq-100 funds. BALQ is actively managed, while QEW is passively managed. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. BALQ charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for QEW.

Performance

BALQ vs. QEW - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ) and Invesco QQQ Equal Weight ETF (QEW). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

BALQ

• 1D: -0.21%
• 1M: 11.15%
• YTD: 22.89%
• 6M: 22.29%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

QEW

• 1D: -0.11%
• 1M: 10.55%
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BALQ vs. QEW - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
BALQ iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF	25.18%
QEW Invesco QQQ Equal Weight ETF	21.49%

Correlation

The correlation between BALQ and QEW is 0.85, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 19, 2026	0.85

Return for Risk

BALQ vs. QEW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ) and Invesco QQQ Equal Weight ETF (QEW). 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.

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BALQ	QEW	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	2.81	9.75	-6.93

Drawdowns

BALQ vs. QEW - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BALQ drawdown since its inception was -11.79%, which is greater than QEW's maximum drawdown of -4.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALQ and QEW.

Drawdown Indicators

	BALQ	QEW	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-11.79%	-4.15%	-7.64%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.21%	-0.11%	-0.10%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.37%	-0.57%	-1.80%

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	BALQ	QEW	Difference
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.03%	15.78%	+2.25%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.03%	15.78%	+2.25%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.03%	15.78%	+2.25%

BALQ vs. QEW - Expense Ratio Comparison

BALQ has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than QEW's 0.25% expense ratio.

Dividends

BALQ vs. QEW - Dividend Comparison

BALQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.59%, while QEW has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025
BALQ iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF	4.59%	0.95%
QEW Invesco QQQ Equal Weight ETF	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BALQ and QEW in my portfolio?

BALQ and QEW have a correlation of 0.85, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, BALQ or QEW?

On fees, QEW is cheaper at 0.25% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, BALQ or QEW?

QEW is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for BALQ.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, BALQ or QEW?

BALQ has the higher dividend yield at 4.59%, compared with 0.00% for QEW.

What is the main difference between BALQ and QEW?

They also come from different issuers: iShares and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for BALQ and 0.25% for QEW.