BALQ vs VYM
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BALQ or VYM?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.6%.
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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.95% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 118 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +18.72%Best | +11.71% |
| 1Y Return | - | +16.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.86% |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.6% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
BALQ vs VYM 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 VYM Performance
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF (BALQ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, BALQ is up 18.72% versus a gain of 11.71% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BALQ charges 0.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $4 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BALQ currently yields 6.95% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
17.8% of BALQ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 31.7% of VYM's money is in holdings BALQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
37 positions in common, counted across the 111 positions we hold weights for in BALQ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 118 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 491 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BALQ (65.3% of the fund), and 69 for BALQ that do not appear in VYM (79.4%).
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 VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.12% | 7.35% | 4.23% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.19% | 1.86% | 0.33% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.71% | 1.48% | 0.77% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.29% | 1.80% | 1.51% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.57% | 1.38% | 0.81% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.78% | 1.13% | 0.35% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.47% | 1.37% | 0.90% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.31% | 1.52% | 1.21% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.29% | 1.50% | 1.21% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.30% | 1.31% | 1.01% |
31.7% of VYM 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 VYM?
BALQ has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between BALQ and VYM?
31.7% of VYM's money is in holdings BALQ also owns. 31.7% of VYM's is in holdings BALQ also owns. They hold 37 positions in common, counted across the 111 positions we hold weights for in BALQ and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BALQ or VYM?
BALQ yields 6.95% while VYM yields 2.22%, so BALQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BALQ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.