BALI vs MMAX
iShares US Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF vs iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
Which is better, BALI or MMAX?
BALI has been ahead.
BALI has a lower expense ratio. BALI led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | BALI | MMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $1.5B | $74M |
| Dividend Yield | 7.81% | 0.76% |
| Holdings | 206 | 7 |
| YTD Return | +11.92%Best | +4.90% |
| 1Y Return | +15.74%Best | +5.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.08% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.3% | 1.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -10.9% | -1.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,191Best | $10,944 |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 26, 2023 | Mar 31, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 1, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.5 years).
BALI vs MMAX 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
BALI vs MMAX Performance
iShares US Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF (BALI) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF (MMAX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year BALI returned +15.74% while MMAX returned +5.24%. Year to date, BALI is up 11.92% versus a gain of 4.90% for MMAX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BALI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 9.3% compared with 1.4% for MMAX. 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 -10.9% for BALI and -1.9% for MMAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BALI charges 0.35% per year while MMAX charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $50 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BALI currently yields 7.81% against 0.76% for MMAX.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.6% of BALI's money is in holdings MMAX also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for MMAX, our book for it lists positions totalling 112.5% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
BALI and MMAX share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 211 positions we hold weights for in BALI and 3 in MMAX, against full books of 206 and 7.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BALI | Weight in MMAX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 2.57% | 1.06% | 1.51% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BALI and MMAX you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BALI or MMAX?
BALI has an expense ratio of 0.35% while MMAX charges 0.50%. BALI is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BALI or MMAX?
Over the past year BALI returned +15.74% vs +5.24% for MMAX, so BALI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BALI annualized +20.28% vs +6.20% for MMAX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BALI or MMAX?
BALI has been the more volatile fund at 9.3% annualized versus 1.4% for MMAX. Worst drawdown: BALI -10.9% vs MMAX -1.9%.
Should I hold both BALI and MMAX?
BALI and MMAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 BALI and MMAX?
At least 2.6% of BALI's money is in holdings MMAX also owns. Our book for MMAX is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 211 positions we hold weights for in BALI and 3 in MMAX.
Which pays a higher dividend, BALI or MMAX?
BALI yields 7.81% while MMAX yields 0.76%, so BALI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MMAX better than BALI?
BALI has a lower expense ratio. BALI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.