RLBGX vs. EFA
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 (RLBGX) and iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA).
RLBGX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jul 26, 1975. EFA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index. It was launched on Aug 14, 2001.
Performance
RLBGX vs. EFA - Performance Comparison
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RLBGX vs. EFA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RLBGX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 | -1.07% | 18.83% | 15.35% | 13.92% | -11.85% | 16.10% | 11.20% | 18.95% | -3.07% | 14.97% |
EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 2.69% | 31.55% | 3.49% | 18.36% | -14.39% | 11.45% | 7.60% | 22.04% | -13.82% | 25.07% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RLBGX achieves a -1.07% return, which is significantly lower than EFA's 2.69% return. Over the past 10 years, RLBGX has outperformed EFA with an annualized return of 9.52%, while EFA has yielded a comparatively lower 8.93% annualized return.
RLBGX
- 1D
- 1.76%
- 1M
- -4.85%
- YTD
- -1.07%
- 6M
- 2.20%
- 1Y
- 17.26%
- 3Y*
- 14.51%
- 5Y*
- 8.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.52%
EFA
- 1D
- 1.52%
- 1M
- -4.54%
- YTD
- 2.69%
- 6M
- 6.65%
- 1Y
- 24.78%
- 3Y*
- 14.94%
- 5Y*
- 8.43%
- 10Y*
- 8.93%
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RLBGX vs. EFA - Expense Ratio Comparison
RLBGX has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than EFA's 0.32% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
RLBGX vs. EFA — Risk / Return Rank
RLBGX
EFA
RLBGX vs. EFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 (RLBGX) and iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA). 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.
| RLBGX | EFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.59 | 1.40 | +0.19 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.33 | 1.99 | +0.34 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.29 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.48 | 2.19 | +0.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.39 | 8.30 | +2.09 |
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
| RLBGX | EFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.59 | 1.40 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.83 | 0.52 | +0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 | 0.52 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.92 | 0.30 | +0.62 |
Correlation
The correlation between RLBGX and EFA is 0.83, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
RLBGX vs. EFA - Dividend Comparison
RLBGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.69%, more than EFA's 3.29% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RLBGX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 | 8.69% | 8.56% | 7.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 4.59% | 4.65% | 3.78% | 5.81% | 4.92% | 4.54% | 5.91% |
EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 3.29% | 3.38% | 3.24% | 2.98% | 2.69% | 3.33% | 2.13% | 3.10% | 3.39% | 2.57% | 3.07% | 2.76% |
Drawdowns
RLBGX vs. EFA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RLBGX drawdown since its inception was -22.33%, smaller than the maximum EFA drawdown of -61.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RLBGX and EFA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RLBGX | EFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.33% | -61.04% | +38.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.33% | -11.42% | +4.09% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.59% | -29.53% | +10.94% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.33% | -34.19% | +11.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.34% | -6.67% | +1.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.48% | -12.00% | +9.52% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.75% | 3.01% | -1.26% |
Volatility
RLBGX vs. EFA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 (RLBGX) is 3.86%, while iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) has a volatility of 7.51%. This indicates that RLBGX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| RLBGX | EFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.86% | 7.51% | -3.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.95% | 11.21% | -4.26% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.19% | 17.74% | -6.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.45% | 16.32% | -5.87% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.63% | 17.20% | -6.57% |