BALT vs. PDEC

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

BALT (Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF) and PDEC (Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - December) are both Defined Outcome funds from Innovator tracking the S&P 500. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BALT returned 6.03%/yr vs 8.66%/yr for PDEC. Their 0.75 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. BALT charges 0.69%/yr vs 0.79%/yr for PDEC.

Performance

BALT vs. PDEC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - December (PDEC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BALT achieves a 3.07% return, which is significantly lower than PDEC's 7.08% return.

BALT

• 1D: 0.29%
• 1M: 0.74%
• 6M: 2.34%
• YTD: 3.07%
• 1Y: 7.13%
• 3Y*: 7.21%
• 5Y*: 6.03%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 5.98%

PDEC

• 1D: 0.48%
• 1M: 1.21%
• 6M: 6.00%
• YTD: 7.08%
• 1Y: 15.66%
• 3Y*: 11.53%
• 5Y*: 8.66%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 8.78%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF	$15.46M	$17.58M	$15.99M
PDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - December	$643.33K	$1.01M	$1.86M

BALT vs. PDEC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF	3.07%	6.65%	9.98%	7.45%	2.54%	0.91%
PDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - December	7.08%	12.91%	9.46%	17.43%	-5.95%	4.18%

Correlation

The correlation between BALT and PDEC is 0.77, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.77
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.75
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.75
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 1, 2021	0.75

The correlation between BALT and PDEC has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.75 to 0.77 - a consistent structural relationship.

BALT vs. PDEC - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	BALT	PDEC
Technology	37.9%	37.9%
Financial Services	11.7%	11.7%
Communication Services	10.0%	10.0%
Consumer Cyclical	9.6%	9.6%
Healthcare	9.1%	9.1%
Industrials	8.4%	8.4%
Consumer Defensive	4.6%	4.6%
Energy	3.0%	3.0%
Utilities	2.3%	2.3%
Real Estate	1.9%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.7%	1.7%

Return for Risk

BALT vs. PDEC — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

BALT

BALT Risk / Return Rank: 96
BALT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 96
BALT Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
BALT Omega Ratio Rank: 97
BALT Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
BALT Martin Ratio Rank: 96

PDEC

PDEC Risk / Return Rank: 89
PDEC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 89
PDEC Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
PDEC Omega Ratio Rank: 91
PDEC Calmar Ratio Rank: 83
PDEC Martin Ratio Rank: 92

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

BALT vs. PDEC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - December (PDEC). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	BALT	PDEC	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.17	2.30	+0.88
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.85	3.37	+1.47
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.69	1.45	+0.24
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	6.21	3.29	+2.92
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	22.86	16.60	+6.26

BALT vs. PDEC - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BALT Sharpe Ratio is 3.17, which is higher than the PDEC Sharpe Ratio of 2.30. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BALT and PDEC, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BALT vs. PDEC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BALT drawdown since its inception was -4.89%, smaller than the maximum PDEC drawdown of -19.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALT and PDEC.

Drawdown Indicators

	BALT	PDEC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-4.89%	-19.31%	+14.42%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.15%	-4.78%	+3.63%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-4.89%	-10.77%	+5.88%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-4.89%	-11.53%	+6.64%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.34%	-1.99%	+1.65%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.31%	0.95%	-0.64%

Volatility

BALT vs. PDEC - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) is 0.85%, while Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - December (PDEC) has a volatility of 1.71%. This indicates that BALT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PDEC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BALT	PDEC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.85%	1.71%	-0.86%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.51%	5.22%	-3.71%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.26%	6.86%	-4.60%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.31%	8.96%	-5.65%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.28%	10.88%	-7.60%

BALT vs. PDEC - Expense Ratio Comparison

BALT has a 0.69% expense ratio, which is lower than PDEC's 0.79% expense ratio.

Dividends

BALT vs. PDEC - Dividend Comparison

Neither BALT nor PDEC has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BALT and PDEC in my portfolio?

BALT and PDEC have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BALT or PDEC?

PDEC has higher volatility (1.71%) compared to BALT (0.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BALT dropped -4.89% vs PDEC's -19.31%.

Which ETF is better, BALT or PDEC?

On 5-year performance, PDEC leads with 8.66% vs 6.03% for BALT. On fees, BALT is cheaper at 0.69% per year. On volatility, BALT has been the lower-risk option at 0.85%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, BALT or PDEC?

Over the 5-year period, PDEC has performed better with a 8.66% return vs 6.03%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, BALT or PDEC?

BALT is cheaper with a 0.69% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for PDEC.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, BALT or PDEC?

BALT and PDEC have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between BALT and PDEC?

Both ETFs track S&P 500. Their fees differ too: 0.69% for BALT and 0.79% for PDEC.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BALT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.17 vs 2.30), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.