NJUL vs. BALQ

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

NJUL (Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - July) and BALQ (iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF) are both Nasdaq-100 funds. NJUL is passively managed, while BALQ is actively managed. Their correlation of 0.88 suggests significant overlap in exposure. NJUL charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for BALQ.

Performance

NJUL vs. BALQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - July (NJUL) and iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, NJUL achieves a 5.44% return, which is significantly lower than BALQ's 19.70% return.

NJUL

• 1D: -0.04%
• 1M: -0.75%
• 6M: 4.90%
• YTD: 5.44%
• 1Y: 11.93%
• 3Y*: 13.85%
• 5Y*: 10.68%
• 10Y*: —

BALQ

• 1D: -0.34%
• 1M: -2.66%
• 6M: 18.32%
• YTD: 19.70%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

NJUL vs. BALQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
NJUL Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - July	5.44%	0.50%
BALQ iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF	19.70%	0.04%

Correlation

The correlation between NJUL and BALQ is 0.88, 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 Dec 3, 2025	0.88

Return for Risk

NJUL vs. BALQ — Risk / Return Rank

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

NJUL

NJUL Risk / Return Rank: 66
NJUL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 61
NJUL Sortino Ratio Rank: 62
NJUL Omega Ratio Rank: 66
NJUL Calmar Ratio Rank: 60
NJUL Martin Ratio Rank: 80

BALQ

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

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.

NJUL vs. BALQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - July (NJUL) and iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ). 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.

	NJUL	BALQ	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.64	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.33	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.43	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.15	—	—

Drawdowns

NJUL vs. BALQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum NJUL drawdown since its inception was -14.37%, which is greater than BALQ's maximum drawdown of -11.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NJUL and BALQ.

Drawdown Indicators

	NJUL	BALQ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.37%	-11.79%	-2.58%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.93%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-13.58%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-14.37%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.11%	-2.80%	+1.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.28%	-2.45%	+0.17%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.98%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	NJUL	BALQ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.42%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.66%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.32%	20.78%	-13.46%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.61%	20.78%	-9.17%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.00%	20.78%	-9.78%

NJUL vs. BALQ - Expense Ratio Comparison

NJUL has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than BALQ's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

NJUL vs. BALQ - Dividend Comparison

NJUL has not paid dividends to shareholders, while BALQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.01%.

Position	TTM	2025
BALQ iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF	6.01%	0.95%
NJUL Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - July	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both NJUL and BALQ in my portfolio?

NJUL and BALQ have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, NJUL or BALQ?

On fees, BALQ is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, NJUL or BALQ?

BALQ is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for NJUL.

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

BALQ has the higher dividend yield at 6.01%, compared with 0.00% for NJUL.

What is the main difference between NJUL and BALQ?

They also come from different issuers: Innovator and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for NJUL and 0.35% for BALQ.