OCTQ vs. BALT

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

OCTQ (Innovator Premium Income 40 Barrier ETF - October) and BALT (Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - OCTQ is a Options Trading fund actively managed by Innovator, while BALT is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the S&P 500. OCTQ is actively managed, while BALT is passively managed. OCTQ charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for BALT.

Performance

OCTQ vs. BALT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Premium Income 40 Barrier ETF - October (OCTQ) and Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

OCTQ

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.00%
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BALT

• 1D: 0.12%
• 1M: 0.53%
• YTD: 2.03%
• 6M: 2.89%
• 1Y: 7.18%
• 3Y*: 7.35%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

OCTQ vs. BALT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
OCTQ Innovator Premium Income 40 Barrier ETF - October	0.00%
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF	1.36%

OCTQ vs. BALT - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	OCTQ	BALT
Technology	35.3%	36.2%
Financial Services	13.4%	11.9%
Consumer Cyclical	10.6%	10.1%
Communication Services	9.9%	10.9%
Healthcare	8.8%	8.4%
Industrials	7.8%	8.1%
Consumer Defensive	5.2%	4.9%
Energy	3.0%	3.5%
Utilities	2.5%	2.3%
Real Estate	2.0%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.6%	1.8%

Return for Risk

OCTQ vs. BALT — Risk / Return Rank

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

BALT

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

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.

OCTQ vs. BALT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Premium Income 40 Barrier ETF - October (OCTQ) 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.

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

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	OCTQ	BALT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	3.29	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	—	1.80	—

Drawdowns

OCTQ vs. BALT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OCTQ drawdown since its inception was 0.00%, smaller than the maximum BALT drawdown of -4.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OCTQ and BALT.

Drawdown Indicators

	OCTQ	BALT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	0.00%	-4.89%	+4.89%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-1.15%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-4.89%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	0.00%	-0.34%	+0.34%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	0.31%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	OCTQ	BALT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	0.37%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	1.56%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.00%	2.19%	-2.19%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.00%	3.31%	-3.31%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.00%	3.31%	-3.31%

OCTQ vs. BALT - Expense Ratio Comparison

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

Dividends

OCTQ vs. BALT - Dividend Comparison

Neither OCTQ nor BALT has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Which ETF is better, OCTQ or BALT?

On fees, BALT is cheaper at 0.69% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, OCTQ or BALT?

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

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

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

What is the main difference between OCTQ and BALT?

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