QCJL vs. BALQ
QCJL (FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July) and BALQ (iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF) are both Nasdaq-100 funds. Both are actively managed. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. QCJL charges 0.90%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for BALQ.
Performance
QCJL vs. BALQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, QCJL achieves a 5.19% return, which is significantly lower than BALQ's 22.35% return.
QCJL
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- 1.18%
- YTD
- 5.19%
- 6M
- 5.63%
- 1Y
- 14.55%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
BALQ
- 1D
- -0.44%
- 1M
- 9.03%
- YTD
- 22.35%
- 6M
- 21.90%
- 1Y
- —
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
QCJL vs. BALQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
QCJL FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July | 5.19% | 0.44% |
BALQ iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF | 22.35% | -0.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between QCJL and BALQ is 0.92, 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 4, 2025 | 0.92 |
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Return for Risk
QCJL vs. BALQ — Risk / Return Rank
QCJL
BALQ
QCJL vs. BALQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July (QCJL) 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.
| QCJL | BALQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | — | — | |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | — | — | |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.50 | — | — |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.65 | — | — |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 18.55 | — | — |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| QCJL | BALQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.49 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.29 | 2.72 | -1.43 |
Drawdowns
QCJL vs. BALQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QCJL drawdown since its inception was -11.18%, smaller than the maximum BALQ drawdown of -11.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QCJL and BALQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QCJL | BALQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.18% | -11.79% | +0.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.00% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.02% | -0.65% | +0.63% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.07% | -2.36% | +1.29% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.79% | — | — |
Volatility
QCJL vs. BALQ - Volatility Comparison
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Volatility by Period
| QCJL | BALQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.39% | — | — |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.31% | — | — |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.88% | 17.97% | -12.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 9.47% | 17.97% | -8.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 9.47% | 17.97% | -8.50% |
QCJL vs. BALQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
QCJL has a 0.90% expense ratio, which is higher than BALQ's 0.35% expense ratio.
Dividends
QCJL vs. BALQ - Dividend Comparison
QCJL has not paid dividends to shareholders, while BALQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.61%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
BALQ iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF | 4.61% | 0.95% |
QCJL FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, QCJL and BALQ move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
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.
BALQ is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for QCJL.
BALQ has the higher dividend yield at 4.61%, compared with 0.00% for QCJL.
They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.90% for QCJL and 0.35% for BALQ.
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