FTBI vs. SPLS

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

FTBI (First Trust Balanced Income ETF) and SPLS (PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond ETF) are both Diversified Portfolio funds. Both are actively managed. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. FTBI charges 0.97%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for SPLS.

Performance

FTBI vs. SPLS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Balanced Income ETF (FTBI) and PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond ETF (SPLS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

FTBI

• 1D: 0.20%
• 1M: 2.19%
• YTD: 6.54%
• 6M: 6.80%
• 1Y: 17.93%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

SPLS

• 1D: 0.35%
• 1M: 4.63%
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

FTBI vs. SPLS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
FTBI First Trust Balanced Income ETF	4.62%
SPLS PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond ETF	9.75%

Correlation

The correlation between FTBI and SPLS is 0.89, 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 Jan 20, 2026	0.89

Return for Risk

FTBI vs. SPLS — Risk / Return Rank

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

FTBI

FTBI Risk / Return Rank: 78
FTBI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 79
FTBI Sortino Ratio Rank: 84
FTBI Omega Ratio Rank: 80
FTBI Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
FTBI Martin Ratio Rank: 80

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.

FTBI vs. SPLS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Balanced Income ETF (FTBI) and PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond ETF (SPLS). 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.

	FTBI	SPLS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.52	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.67	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.47	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.37	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.34	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	FTBI	SPLS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.52	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	2.65	1.88	+0.77

Drawdowns

FTBI vs. SPLS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FTBI drawdown since its inception was -5.34%, smaller than the maximum SPLS drawdown of -9.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTBI and SPLS.

Drawdown Indicators

	FTBI	SPLS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-5.34%	-9.24%	+3.90%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.34%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.17%	-0.31%	+0.14%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.61%	-1.84%	+1.23%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.17%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	FTBI	SPLS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.02%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.65%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.15%	14.94%	-7.79%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.13%	14.94%	-7.81%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	7.13%	14.94%	-7.81%

FTBI vs. SPLS - Expense Ratio Comparison

FTBI has a 0.97% expense ratio, which is higher than SPLS's 0.18% expense ratio.

Dividends

FTBI vs. SPLS - Dividend Comparison

FTBI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.87%, more than SPLS's 0.22% yield.

Position	TTM	2025
FTBI First Trust Balanced Income ETF	7.87%	4.76%
SPLS PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond ETF	0.22%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FTBI and SPLS in my portfolio?

FTBI and SPLS have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, FTBI or SPLS?

On fees, SPLS is cheaper at 0.18% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, FTBI or SPLS?

SPLS is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.97% for FTBI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, FTBI or SPLS?

FTBI has the higher dividend yield at 7.87%, compared with 0.22% for SPLS.

What is the main difference between FTBI and SPLS?

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and PIMCO. Their fees differ too: 0.97% for FTBI and 0.18% for SPLS.