BALQ vs SPY
BALQ vs SPY
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Quick Verdict
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY offers more diversification with 503 holdings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BALQ | SPY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.09% | |
| AUM | $16M | $789.1B | |
| Dividend Yield | 4.59% | 1.01% | |
| Holdings | 118 | 505 | |
| YTD Return | +19.38% | +13.10% | |
| 1Y Return | - | +22.80% | |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.98% | |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.20% | |
| Volatility (annualized) | - | 15.3% | |
| Max Drawdown | -11.8% | -56.5% | |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management | |
| Category | Alternative | Equity | |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
BALQ vs SPY Performance
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ) is a ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, BALQ is up 19.38% versus a gain of 13.10% for SPY.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -11.8% for BALQ and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BALQ charges 0.35% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $9 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BALQ currently yields 4.59% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
BALQ and SPY share 70 holdings out of 544 unique holdings combined, representing a 52.4% weight overlap.
High overlap means holding both may not provide much additional diversification.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BALQ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA | 7.94% | 7.31% | 0.63% |
| AAPL | 7.85% | 7.09% | 0.76% |
| MSFT | 6.03% | 4.43% | 1.60% |
| AMZN | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| GOOGL | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| MU | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| AVGO | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| GOOG | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| AMD | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| TSLA | Pro | Pro | Pro |
See all 10 holdings BALQ shares with SPY Exact weights in each fund and the difference, for every overlapping position. Get FundXLS Pro: $29/moFirst 500 subscribers, then $49/mo. Cancel anytime. | |||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BALQ or SPY?
BALQ has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $26 per year of difference.
What is the holdings overlap between BALQ and SPY?
BALQ and SPY share 70 common holdings with a 52.4% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 544 unique securities.
Which pays a higher dividend, BALQ or SPY?
BALQ yields 4.59% while SPY yields 1.01%, so BALQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
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