SmarterDividends

BALI vs JEPQ: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, JEPQ yields more: 11.71% (dividend yield) against 6.90% for BALI. BALI is cheaper to own at 0.35% a year vs 0.35%. Over the same 3 years (Sep 2023 to Oct 2026), BALI returned 20.1% a year with distributions reinvested, and JEPQ 19.1%.

ComparedBALIJEPQ
YieldDividend yield6.90%11.71%
Expense ratio0.35%0.35%
Total return, 1 yr+15.7%+9.5%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+21.2%+20.0%
Worst drop since Sep 2023-7.4%-8.4%
Share price since Sep 2023+38%+23%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerBlackRockJPMorgan
Assets$1.5B$42.5B
Started20232022
TypeDerivative IncomeDerivative Income

Higher yield

JEPQ

11.71%

Lower cost

BALI

0.35%

Better total return

BALI

20.1%/yr

Smaller worst drop

BALI

-7.4%

Key facts: BALI vs JEPQ

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, BALI yields 6.90% (dividend yield) and JEPQ yields 11.71% (dividend yield).
  • BALI's expense ratio is 0.35% and JEPQ's is 0.35%: $35 vs $35 a year on $10,000.
  • From Sep 2023 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in BALI grew to $17,610 (20.1% a year) and $10,000 in JEPQ to $17,155 (19.1% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -7.4% for BALI and -8.4% for JEPQ.
  • 4 of BALI's top ten holdings are also in JEPQ's top ten, an overlap of at least 22% of the fund.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "BALI vs JEPQ: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/bali-vs-jepq

$10,000 in each, Sep 2023 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.

BALI became

$17,610

20.1% a year

JEPQ became

$17,155

19.1% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearBALIJEPQ
2025+14.5%+15.2%
2024+22.4%+24.8%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

4 of the top ten overlap, at least 22% of each fund.

BALI

  1. NVDA NVIDIA Corp6.8%
  2. AAPL Apple Inc6.3%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.4%
  4. XTSLA BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency3.3%
  5. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.2%
  6. AVGO Broadcom Inc2.1%
  7. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.1%
  8. XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.0%

JEPQ

  1. AAPL Apple Inc7.0%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.0%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.6%
  4. MU Micron Technology Inc4.3%
  5. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C4.1%
  6. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.8%
  7. AMD Advanced Micro Devices Inc3.4%
  8. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.7%
  9. TSLA Tesla Inc2.4%
  10. WMT Walmart Inc2.0%

BALI vs JEPQ: questions

Is BALI or JEPQ better?

It depends on the job. JEPQ pays more today (11.71% vs 6.90%), BALI costs less, and BALI has the better total return over Sep 2023 to Oct 2026, with BALI holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.

Which pays a higher dividend, BALI or JEPQ?

JEPQ, at 11.71% against 6.90% for BALI as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $1,171 vs $690 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

BALI. From Sep 2023 to Oct 2026, it returned 20.1% a year with distributions reinvested, against 19.1% for JEPQ. $10,000 became $17,610 vs $17,155.

Which is cheaper, BALI or JEPQ?

BALI, with a 0.35% expense ratio against 0.35%.

Do BALI and JEPQ hold the same things?

Partly. 4 of their top ten holdings match (NVDA, AAPL, MSFT, AMZN), at least 22% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. BALI leads on 4 of 5 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.