OCTH vs. BALT

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

OCTH (Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October) and BALT (Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - OCTH is a Options Trading fund actively managed by Innovator, while BALT is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the S&P 500. OCTH is actively managed, while BALT is passively managed. Over the past year, OCTH returned 7.08% vs 6.95% for BALT. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. OCTH charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for BALT.

Performance

OCTH vs. BALT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October (OCTH) and Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, OCTH achieves a 2.88% return, which is significantly higher than BALT's 1.91% return.

OCTH

• 1D: -0.21%
• 1M: 0.64%
• YTD: 2.88%
• 6M: 3.64%
• 1Y: 7.08%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BALT

• 1D: -0.06%
• 1M: 0.53%
• YTD: 1.91%
• 6M: 2.81%
• 1Y: 6.95%
• 3Y*: 7.27%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

OCTH vs. BALT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
OCTH Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October	2.88%	6.58%	6.24%	3.79%
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF	1.91%	6.65%	9.98%	2.62%

Correlation

The correlation between OCTH and BALT is 0.59, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.59
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 3, 2023	0.56

The correlation between OCTH and BALT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.56 to 0.59 - a consistent structural relationship.

OCTH vs. BALT - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	OCTH	BALT
Technology	33.6%	36.2%
Financial Services	12.4%	11.9%
Communication Services	10.5%	10.9%
Consumer Cyclical	10.0%	10.1%
Healthcare	9.5%	8.4%
Industrials	8.5%	8.1%
Consumer Defensive	5.3%	4.9%
Energy	4.0%	3.5%
Utilities	2.5%	2.3%
Real Estate	2.0%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.9%	1.8%

Return for Risk

OCTH vs. BALT — Risk / Return Rank

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

OCTH

OCTH Risk / Return Rank: 67
OCTH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 58
OCTH Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
OCTH Omega Ratio Rank: 71
OCTH Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
OCTH Martin Ratio Rank: 80

BALT

BALT Risk / Return Rank: 92
BALT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
BALT Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
BALT Omega Ratio Rank: 93
BALT Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
BALT Martin Ratio Rank: 91

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.

OCTH vs. BALT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October (OCTH) and Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT). 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.

	OCTH	BALT	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.91	3.19	-1.27
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.90	4.88	-1.98
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	1.67	-0.26
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.11	6.05	-2.94
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	15.44	22.58	-7.13
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

OCTH vs. BALT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current OCTH Sharpe Ratio is 1.91, which is lower than the BALT Sharpe Ratio of 3.19. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of OCTH and BALT, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	OCTH	BALT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.91	3.19	-1.27
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.23	1.80	-0.57

Drawdowns

OCTH vs. BALT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OCTH drawdown since its inception was -7.71%, which is greater than BALT's maximum drawdown of -4.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OCTH and BALT.

Drawdown Indicators

	OCTH	BALT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-7.71%	-4.89%	-2.82%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.28%	-1.15%	-1.13%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-4.89%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.21%	-0.06%	-0.15%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.27%	-0.34%	+0.07%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.46%	0.31%	+0.15%

Volatility

OCTH vs. BALT - Volatility Comparison

Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October (OCTH) and Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) have volatilities of 0.38% and 0.37%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	OCTH	BALT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.38%	0.37%	+0.01%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.88%	1.56%	+1.32%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.72%	2.19%	+1.53%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.06%	3.32%	+2.74%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	6.06%	3.32%	+2.74%

OCTH vs. BALT - Expense Ratio Comparison

OCTH has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than BALT's 0.69% expense ratio.

Dividends

OCTH vs. BALT - Dividend Comparison

OCTH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.31%, while BALT has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
OCTH Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October	6.31%	6.33%	7.43%	1.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both OCTH and BALT in my portfolio?

OCTH and BALT have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, OCTH or BALT?

OCTH has higher volatility (0.38%) compared to BALT (0.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OCTH dropped -7.71% vs BALT's -4.89%.

Which ETF is better, OCTH or BALT?

On 1-year performance, OCTH leads with 7.08% vs 6.95% for BALT. On fees, BALT is cheaper at 0.69% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, OCTH or BALT?

Over the 1-year period, OCTH has performed better with a 7.08% return vs 6.95%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, OCTH or BALT?

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

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

OCTH has the higher dividend yield at 6.31%, compared with 0.00% for BALT.

What is the main difference between OCTH and BALT?

OCTH is categorized as Options Trading, while BALT is Defined Outcome. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for OCTH and 0.69% for BALT.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BALT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.19 vs 1.91), 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.