ISPY vs BALI: Income Fund Comparison
Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US (ISPY) and iShares U.S. Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF - US (BALI) are both income-focused funds. Below is our independent side-by-side review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system — designed specifically for income investors seeking reliable, sustainable distributions.
Also see: ISPY individual review · BALI individual review
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56% BALI: Net expense ratio is 0.35%. ISPY inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history BALI fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.
| ISPY | BALI | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US | iShares U.S. Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Diversified Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | 2026-04-07 | 2026-03-06 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: ISPY vs BALI 20% of overall score
Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of each fund: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect stability and cost-efficiency for long-term income investors.
Expense ratio is 0.56%
Net expense ratio is 0.35%.
ProShares has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management
BlackRock reported $14 trillion in AUM for full year 2025 - world's largest asset manager.
Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history
Fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date.
Fund AUM approximately $1.14 billion as of February 28 2026
Fund net assets are approximately $843 million per iShares product page.
Risk: ISPY vs BALI 35% of overall score
Risk factors evaluate how each fund manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets — critical considerations for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.
Calculation result: beta 0.91 vs SPY (period 2023-12-29 to 2026-03-28) - standalone volatility 12.99% annualized (weekly returns) - low-to-moderate price variability
Beta is 0.87 vs SPY over the period 2023-10-06 to 2026-03-06 (fund history). Standalone annualized volatility is 12.64% from weekly total return data series - low-to-moderate. Both beta and standalone volatility score at 4.
See the full Risk analysis for both ISPY and BALI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: ISPY vs BALI 45% of overall score
Return factors assess income generation quality: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.
Monthly distributions
Fund pays monthly distributions - confirmed from 29 payments in data series since inception in September 2023.
See the full Return analysis for both ISPY and BALI — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.
View Plans →Our Review Methodology
Every fund reviewed on Dependable Income Investing is scored using our 13-factor Fund Report Card, organised into three weighted categories: Fund Attributes (20%), Risk (35%), and Return (45%). Each criterion is rated 1–5 by our analysts based on publicly available fund data.
We also calculate a Dependability Score — a weighted composite of six income-specific factors ranked by importance for retirement income investors: Yield Stability, Yield, Volatility, Capital History, Fund Risk, and Underlying Assets. This score answers the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?
Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes for both ISPY and BALI are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: ISPY vs BALI
Which has a lower expense ratio, ISPY or BALI?
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56%
BALI: Net expense ratio is 0.35%.
Which fund has more assets under management, ISPY or BALI?
ISPY: Fund AUM approximately $1.14 billion as of February 28 2026
BALI: Fund net assets are approximately $843 million per iShares product page.
Which fund has been trading longer, ISPY or BALI?
ISPY: Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history
BALI: Fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date.
Who manages ISPY vs BALI?
ISPY: ProShares has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management
BALI: BlackRock reported $14 trillion in AUM for full year 2025 - world's largest asset manager.
Where can I see the full ISPY vs BALI comparison with scores?
The complete side-by-side comparison — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, Overall Score, and Dependability Score for both funds — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
What is the difference between ISPY and BALI?
Proshares S&P 500 High Income ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 0.56%. iShares U.S. Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF - US is a Diversified Fund. Net expense ratio is 0.35%. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Which is better for income investors, ISPY or BALI?
ISPY: Expense ratio is 0.56%. Inception date December 18 2023 - approximately 2.3 years of history. BALI: Net expense ratio is 0.35%. Fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Do ISPY and BALI pay monthly distributions?
ISPY: Monthly distributions. BALI: Fund pays monthly distributions - confirmed from 29 payments in data series since inception in September 2023. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See the Full ISPY vs BALI Comparison
The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors for both funds, Risk and Return analyst notes, Dependability Scores, and tools to compare any income fund side by side.
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