BAI vs THRO
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF vs iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF
Which is better, BAI or THRO?
BAI has been ahead.
BAI has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.5%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BAI | THRO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55%Best | 0.57% |
| AUM | $14.2B | $7.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.26% | 0.30% |
| Holdings | 55 | 251 |
| YTD Return | +30.13%Best | +14.55% |
| 1Y Return | +30.79%Best | +18.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 37.4% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -19.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $18,007Best | $13,410 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.0%Best | 43.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | BlackRock, Inc. (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2024 | Dec 14, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
BAI vs THRO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 2 years both funds cover.
BAI vs THRO Performance
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF (THRO) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US). Over the past year BAI returned +30.79% while THRO returned +18.23%. Year to date, BAI is up 30.13% versus a gain of 14.55% for THRO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.4% compared with 14.3% for THRO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -34.1% for BAI and -19.1% for THRO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAI charges 0.55% per year while THRO charges 0.57%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $57 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAI currently yields 1.26% against 0.30% for THRO.
Holdings Overlap
57.9% of BAI's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 36.5% of THRO's money is in holdings BAI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
22 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 247 in THRO, against full books of 55 and 251.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 139 positions for THRO that do not appear in our book for BAI (62.4% of the fund), and 14 for BAI that do not appear in THRO (16.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BAI | Weight in THRO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.30% | 8.58% | 3.28% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 6.46% | 2.61% | 3.85% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.13% | 6.24% | 4.11% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.87% | 1.99% | 2.88% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.75% | 2.11% | 2.64% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.05% | 4.47% | 2.42% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 2.49% | 3.79% | 1.30% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.05% | 0.77% | 3.28% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.90% | 1.47% | 1.43% |
| SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies | 3.06% | 0.10% | 2.96% |
57.9% of BAI is already inside THRO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BAI or THRO?
BAI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while THRO charges 0.57%. BAI is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAI or THRO?
Over the past year BAI returned +30.79% vs +18.23% for THRO, so BAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAI annualized +34.19% vs +15.80% for THRO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAI or THRO?
BAI has been the more volatile fund at 37.4% annualized versus 14.3% for THRO. Worst drawdown: BAI -34.1% vs THRO -19.1%.
Should I hold both BAI and THRO?
BAI and THRO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BAI and THRO?
57.9% of BAI's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 36.5% of THRO's is in holdings BAI also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 247 in THRO.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAI or THRO?
BAI yields 1.26% while THRO yields 0.30%, so BAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THRO better than BAI?
BAI has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.