BALT vs. UGA

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

BALT (Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF) and UGA (United States Gasoline Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - BALT is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the S&P 500, while UGA is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Unleaded Gasoline. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, BALT returned 7.11%/yr vs 18.95%/yr for UGA. At a 0.07 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BALT charges 0.69%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for UGA.

Performance

BALT vs. UGA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) and United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BALT achieves a 2.21% return, which is significantly lower than UGA's 64.09% return.

BALT

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.47%
• YTD: 2.21%
• 6M: 2.42%
• 1Y: 6.86%
• 3Y*: 7.11%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

UGA

• 1D: -1.12%
• 1M: -12.11%
• YTD: 64.09%
• 6M: 60.42%
• 1Y: 59.74%
• 3Y*: 18.95%
• 5Y*: 22.69%
• 10Y*: 14.31%

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

BALT vs. UGA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF	2.21%	6.65%	9.98%	7.45%	2.54%	0.91%
UGA United States Gasoline Fund LP	64.09%	-2.00%	3.77%	1.27%	46.34%	14.22%

Correlation

The correlation between BALT and UGA is -0.09, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.09
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.01
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 1, 2021	0.07

The correlation between BALT and UGA shifts across timeframes, from -0.09 (1 year) to 0.07 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

BALT vs. UGA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BALT

BALT Risk / Return Rank: 94
BALT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 93
BALT Sortino Ratio Rank: 95
BALT Omega Ratio Rank: 95
BALT Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
BALT Martin Ratio Rank: 93

UGA

UGA Risk / Return Rank: 55
UGA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
UGA Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
UGA Omega Ratio Rank: 49
UGA Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
UGA Martin Ratio Rank: 56

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BALT vs. UGA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) and United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA). 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	UGA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.19	1.73	+1.46
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.88	2.25	+2.63
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.69	1.30	+0.39
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	5.98	3.17	+2.81
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	22.31	9.39	+12.92

BALT vs. UGA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BALT Sharpe Ratio is 3.19, which is higher than the UGA Sharpe Ratio of 1.73. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BALT and UGA, 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. UGA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BALT drawdown since its inception was -4.89%, smaller than the maximum UGA drawdown of -86.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BALT and UGA.

Drawdown Indicators

	BALT	UGA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-4.89%	-86.59%	+81.70%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.15%	-18.96%	+17.81%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-4.89%	-26.68%	+21.79%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-38.11%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-75.89%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-18.05%	+18.05%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.34%	-36.69%	+36.35%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.31%	6.43%	-6.12%

Volatility

BALT vs. UGA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) is 0.29%, while United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA) has a volatility of 9.24%. This indicates that BALT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UGA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BALT	UGA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.29%	9.24%	-8.95%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.45%	30.57%	-29.12%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.16%	35.22%	-33.06%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.30%	34.45%	-31.15%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.30%	37.22%	-33.92%

BALT vs. UGA - Expense Ratio Comparison

BALT has a 0.69% expense ratio, which is lower than UGA's 0.75% expense ratio.

Dividends

BALT vs. UGA - Dividend Comparison

Neither BALT nor UGA has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BALT and UGA in my portfolio?

BALT and UGA have a correlation of -0.09, 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 UGA?

UGA has higher volatility (9.24%) compared to BALT (0.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BALT dropped -4.89% vs UGA's -86.59%.

Which ETF is better, BALT or UGA?

On 3-year performance, UGA leads with 18.95% vs 7.11% for BALT. On fees, BALT is cheaper at 0.69% per year. On volatility, BALT has been the lower-risk option at 0.29%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, BALT or UGA?

Over the 3-year period, UGA has performed better with a 18.95% return vs 7.11%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, BALT or UGA?

BALT is cheaper with a 0.69% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for UGA.

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

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

What is the main difference between BALT and UGA?

BALT is categorized as Defined Outcome, while UGA is Oil & Gas. BALT tracks S&P 500, while UGA tracks Front Month Unleaded Gasoline. They also come from different issuers: Innovator and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.69% for BALT and 0.75% for UGA.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BALT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.19 vs 1.73), 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.