XDSQ vs. BALT

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

XDSQ (Innovator US Equity Accelerated ETF) and BALT (Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XDSQ is a Leveraged Equities fund actively managed by Innovator, while BALT is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the S&P 500. XDSQ is actively managed, while BALT is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, XDSQ returned 14.85%/yr vs 7.31%/yr for BALT. A 0.79 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XDSQ charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for BALT.

Performance

XDSQ vs. BALT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator US Equity Accelerated ETF (XDSQ) 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, XDSQ achieves a 2.52% return, which is significantly higher than BALT's 1.97% return.

XDSQ

• 1D: -0.30%
• 1M: 0.76%
• YTD: 2.52%
• 6M: 3.33%
• 1Y: 16.01%
• 3Y*: 14.85%
• 5Y*: 9.75%
• 10Y*: —

BALT

• 1D: -0.06%
• 1M: 0.44%
• YTD: 1.97%
• 6M: 2.77%
• 1Y: 7.12%
• 3Y*: 7.31%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

XDSQ vs. BALT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
XDSQ Innovator US Equity Accelerated ETF	2.52%	14.22%	23.12%	23.00%	-16.78%	6.37%
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF	1.97%	6.65%	9.98%	7.45%	2.54%	0.82%

Correlation

The correlation between XDSQ and BALT is 0.78, 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	0.78
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.81
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 2, 2021	0.79

The correlation between XDSQ and BALT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.78 to 0.81 - a consistent structural relationship.

XDSQ vs. BALT - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XDSQ	BALT
Technology	35.7%	36.2%
Financial Services	11.6%	11.9%
Communication Services	11.3%	10.9%
Consumer Cyclical	10.2%	10.1%
Healthcare	8.5%	8.4%
Industrials	8.3%	8.1%
Consumer Defensive	4.9%	4.9%
Energy	3.5%	3.5%
Utilities	2.4%	2.3%
Real Estate	1.9%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.8%	1.8%

Return for Risk

XDSQ vs. BALT — Risk / Return Rank

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

XDSQ

XDSQ Risk / Return Rank: 46
XDSQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 46
XDSQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 44
XDSQ Omega Ratio Rank: 54
XDSQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
XDSQ Martin Ratio Rank: 51

BALT

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

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.

XDSQ vs. BALT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator US Equity Accelerated ETF (XDSQ) 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.

	XDSQ	BALT	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.53	3.26	-1.74
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.10	5.00	-2.90
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	1.69	-0.38
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.68	6.20	-4.52
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.99	23.11	-15.12
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XDSQ vs. BALT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XDSQ Sharpe Ratio is 1.53, which is lower than the BALT Sharpe Ratio of 3.26. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XDSQ 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

	XDSQ	BALT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.53	3.26	-1.74
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.64	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.69	1.80	-1.11

Drawdowns

XDSQ vs. BALT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XDSQ drawdown since its inception was -26.06%, which is greater than BALT's maximum drawdown of -4.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XDSQ and BALT.

Drawdown Indicators

	XDSQ	BALT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-26.06%	-4.89%	-21.17%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.60%	-1.15%	-8.45%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.15%	-4.89%	-14.26%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.06%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.30%	-0.06%	-0.24%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.96%	-0.34%	-4.62%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.01%	0.31%	+1.70%

Volatility

XDSQ vs. BALT - Volatility Comparison

Innovator US Equity Accelerated ETF (XDSQ) has a higher volatility of 0.60% compared to Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) at 0.38%. This indicates that XDSQ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BALT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XDSQ	BALT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.60%	0.38%	+0.22%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	8.39%	1.56%	+6.83%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.55%	2.19%	+8.36%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.27%	3.31%	+11.96%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.09%	3.31%	+11.78%

XDSQ vs. BALT - Expense Ratio Comparison

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

Dividends

XDSQ vs. BALT - Dividend Comparison

Neither XDSQ nor BALT has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XDSQ and BALT in my portfolio?

XDSQ and BALT have a correlation of 0.78, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XDSQ or BALT?

XDSQ has higher volatility (0.60%) compared to BALT (0.38%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XDSQ dropped -26.06% vs BALT's -4.89%.

Which ETF is better, XDSQ or BALT?

On 3-year performance, XDSQ leads with 14.85% vs 7.31% for BALT. On fees, BALT is cheaper at 0.69% per year. On volatility, BALT has been the lower-risk option at 0.38%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XDSQ or BALT?

Over the 3-year period, XDSQ has performed better with a 14.85% return vs 7.31%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XDSQ or BALT?

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

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

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

What is the main difference between XDSQ and BALT?

XDSQ is categorized as Leveraged Equities, while BALT is Defined Outcome. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for XDSQ and 0.69% for BALT.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BALT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.26 vs 1.53), 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.