BAI vs GQGU
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF vs GQG US Equity ETF
Which is better, BAI or GQGU?
BAI has been ahead.
GQGU has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%.
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 | GQGU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $10.1B | $506M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 114 | 72 |
| YTD Return | +12.00%Best | -2.98% |
| 1Y Return | +8.73%Best | -2.84% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 42.8% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.0% | -18.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $13,228Best | $9,592 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.6%Best | 49.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | GQG Partners LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2024 | Jul 31, 2019 |
Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.3 years).
BAI vs GQGU 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
BAI vs GQGU Performance
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and GQG US Equity ETF (GQGU) is an ETF from GQG Partners LLC. Over the past year BAI returned +8.73% while GQGU returned -2.84%. Year to date, BAI is up 12.00% versus a loss of 2.98% for GQGU.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 42.8% compared with 13.9% for GQGU. 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 -40.0% for BAI and -18.4% for GQGU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.02. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAI charges 0.55% per year while GQGU charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $49 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAI currently yields 1.40% against 1.00% for GQGU.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in BAI and 33 in GQGU, totalling 99.8% and 95.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 33 in GQGU, against full books of 114 and 72.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 32 positions for GQGU that do not appear in our book for BAI (92.4% of the fund), and 36 for BAI that do not appear in GQGU (72.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BAI and GQGU 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, BAI or GQGU?
BAI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while GQGU charges 0.49%. GQGU is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAI or GQGU?
Over the past year BAI returned +8.73% vs -2.84% for GQGU, so BAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BAI annualized +24.01% vs -3.15% for GQGU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAI or GQGU?
BAI has been the more volatile fund at 42.8% annualized versus 13.9% for GQGU. Worst drawdown: BAI -40.0% vs GQGU -18.4%.
Should I hold both BAI and GQGU?
BAI and GQGU have a monthly-return correlation of -0.02, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAI or GQGU?
BAI yields 1.40% while GQGU yields 1.00%, so BAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is GQGU better than BAI?
GQGU has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 41.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.