JEPI vs BALI: Income Fund Comparison
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF - US (JEPI) 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: JEPI individual review · BALI individual review
JEPI: Expense ratio is 0.35% which is low for an options-based income ETF. BALI: Net expense ratio is 0.35%. JEPI fund inception date was May 20th 2020 - approximately 5.8 years of history as of review date. 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.
| JEPI | BALI | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF - US | iShares U.S. Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Diversified Fund | Diversified Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | 2026-03-06 | 2026-03-06 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: JEPI 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 0.35% which is low for an options-based income ETF.
Net expense ratio is 0.35%.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management has trillions in assets under management - one of the largest asset managers in the world.
BlackRock reported $14 trillion in AUM for full year 2025 - world's largest asset manager.
Fund inception date was May 20th 2020 - approximately 5.8 years of history as of review date.
Fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date.
Approximately $44.58 Billion in assets under management as of March 2026. One of the most popular income ETFs in the world.
Fund net assets are approximately $843 million per iShares product page.
Risk: JEPI 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.
Beta is 0.58 vs SPY (2020-05-29 to 2026-03-06) - significantly lower than the market. Very low volatility for an income fund.
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 JEPI and BALI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: JEPI 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 JEPI 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 JEPI and BALI are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: JEPI vs BALI
Which has a lower expense ratio, JEPI or BALI?
JEPI: Expense ratio is 0.35% which is low for an options-based income ETF.
BALI: Net expense ratio is 0.35%.
Which fund has more assets under management, JEPI or BALI?
JEPI: Approximately $44.58 Billion in assets under management as of March 2026. One of the most popular income ETFs in the world.
BALI: Fund net assets are approximately $843 million per iShares product page.
Which fund has been trading longer, JEPI or BALI?
JEPI: Fund inception date was May 20th 2020 - approximately 5.8 years of history as of review date.
BALI: Fund inception date was September 26 2023 - approximately 2 years and 5 months old as of review date.
Who manages JEPI vs BALI?
JEPI: J.P. Morgan Asset Management has trillions in assets under management - one of the largest asset managers in the world.
BALI: BlackRock reported $14 trillion in AUM for full year 2025 - world's largest asset manager.
Where can I see the full JEPI 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 JEPI and BALI?
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF - US is a Diversified Fund. Expense ratio is 0.35% which is low for an options-based income ETF. 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, JEPI or BALI?
JEPI: Expense ratio is 0.35% which is low for an options-based income ETF. Fund inception date was May 20th 2020 - approximately 5.8 years of history as of review date. 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 JEPI and BALI pay monthly distributions?
JEPI: 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 JEPI 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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