IVVW vs BALI: Income Fund Comparison
iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US (IVVW) 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: IVVW individual review · BALI individual review
IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. BALI: Net expense ratio is 0.35%. IVVW fund inception date was March 14 2024. 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.
| IVVW | BALI | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite 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 | 2025-06-04 | 2026-03-06 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: IVVW 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.
MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
Net expense ratio is 0.35%.
iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.
BlackRock reported $14 trillion in AUM for full year 2025 - world's largest asset manager.
Fund inception date was March 14 2024.
Fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date.
40 Million net assets invested in this fund.
Fund net assets are approximately $843 million per iShares product page.
Risk: IVVW 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.
Portfolio visualizer says the beta is 0.62 which is lower volatility than the overall market.
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 IVVW and BALI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: IVVW 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.
Pays monthly.
Fund pays monthly distributions - confirmed from 29 payments in data series since inception in September 2023.
See the full Return analysis for both IVVW 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 IVVW and BALI are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: IVVW vs BALI
Which has a lower expense ratio, IVVW or BALI?
IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
BALI: Net expense ratio is 0.35%.
Which fund has more assets under management, IVVW or BALI?
IVVW: 40 Million net assets invested in this fund.
BALI: Fund net assets are approximately $843 million per iShares product page.
Which fund has been trading longer, IVVW or BALI?
IVVW: Fund inception date was March 14 2024.
BALI: Fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date.
Who manages IVVW vs BALI?
IVVW: iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.
BALI: BlackRock reported $14 trillion in AUM for full year 2025 - world's largest asset manager.
Where can I see the full IVVW 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 IVVW and BALI?
iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. 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, IVVW or BALI?
IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Fund inception date was March 14 2024. 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 IVVW and BALI pay monthly distributions?
IVVW: Pays monthly. 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 IVVW 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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