BALQ vs IVV
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BALQ or IVV?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.8%.
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 | BALQ | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $38M | $896.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.50% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 120 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +23.10%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.54% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.28% |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.8% | 38.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2025 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
BALQ vs IVV 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BALQ vs IVV Performance
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Year to date, BALQ is up 23.10% versus a gain of 13.59% for IVV.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BALQ charges 0.35% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BALQ currently yields 7.50% against 1.10% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
86.5% of BALQ's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 54.6% of IVV's money is in holdings BALQ also owns.
Most of BALQ is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
61 positions in common, counted across the 111 positions we hold weights for in BALQ and 506 in IVV, against full books of 120 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 439 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for BALQ (44.8% of the fund), and 45 for BALQ that do not appear in IVV (11.6%).
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 BALQ | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.62% | 8.44% | 0.18% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.40% | 7.29% | 0.11% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.75% | 5.76% | 0.99% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.48% | 3.68% | 0.80% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 5.63% | 1.87% | 3.76% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.93% | 1.52% | 3.41% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.27% | 3.00% | 0.27% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.49% | 2.42% | 1.07% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 2.41% | 0.52% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.82% | 2.47% | 0.35% |
86.5% of BALQ is already inside IVV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BALQ or IVV?
BALQ has an expense ratio of 0.35% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between BALQ and IVV?
86.5% of BALQ's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 54.6% of IVV's is in holdings BALQ also owns. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 111 positions we hold weights for in BALQ and 506 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, BALQ or IVV?
BALQ yields 7.50% while IVV yields 1.10%, so BALQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than BALQ?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.