BALQ vs SCHD
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, BALQ or SCHD?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% 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 | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $38M | $111.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.50% | 3.24% |
| Holdings | 120 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +23.10% | +24.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +29.85% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.54% |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.8% | 41.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2025 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
BALQ vs SCHD 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 SCHD Performance
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Year to date, BALQ is up 23.10% versus a gain of 24.55% for SCHD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BALQ charges 0.35% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $6 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BALQ currently yields 7.50% against 3.24% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
4.0% of BALQ's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 29.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings BALQ also owns.
SCHD and BALQ share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 111 positions we hold weights for in BALQ and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 120 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 87 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for BALQ (70.2% of the fund), and 96 for BALQ that do not appear in SCHD (94.1%).
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 BALQ | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.57% | 4.14% | 3.57% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.50% | 4.16% | 3.66% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.68% | 3.88% | 3.20% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.28% | 4.04% | 3.76% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.28% | 3.95% | 3.67% |
| ABTAbbot Laboratories | 0.39% | 3.74% | 3.35% |
| LMTLockheed Martin | 0.77% | 2.64% | 1.87% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 0.29% | 1.79% | 1.50% |
| ADMArcher-daniels D | 0.18% | 1.00% | 0.82% |
| BAHBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 0.10% | 0.21% | 0.11% |
29.6% of SCHD is already inside BALQ.
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 SCHD?
BALQ has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between BALQ and SCHD?
29.6% of SCHD's money is in holdings BALQ also owns. 29.6% of SCHD's is in holdings BALQ also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 111 positions we hold weights for in BALQ and 98 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, BALQ or SCHD?
BALQ yields 7.50% while SCHD yields 3.24%, so BALQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than BALQ?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.6% 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.