ABALX vs TIP: 12% overlap
American Funds American Balanced A and iShares TIPS Bond ETF share 12.3% of their portfolios by weight — computed as Σ min(wA, wB) over every holding both funds own.
Different holding dates. These holdings were published about 4 months apart — ABALX as of 2026-03-31, the rest through 2026-07-23. Each fund is compared using its most recent file, so any trading in between shows up as a difference.
You would hold two tickers and get the diversification of 1.9. Two funds that shared nothing would score 2.0; two identical funds score 1.0.
Top shared holdings
ABALX and TIP hold 4 of the same securities. The ten contributing most to the overlap figure:
| Holding | in ABALX | in TIP | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91282C | 9.3% | 63.3% | 54.0% |
| 912810 | 2.8% | 19.1% | 16.3% |
| 912828 | 0.2% | 17.3% | 17.1% |
| CASH | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Where ABALX and TIP differ
Sector weights as a share of each fund, ordered by the size of the gap rather than the size of the sector — two funds that overlap heavily still usually diverge somewhere.
| Sector | ABALX | TIP | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treasuries | 12.3% | 99.6% | −87.4pp |
| Unclassified | 22.7% | 0.0% | +22.7pp |
| Information Technology | 16.0% | 0.0% | +16.0pp |
| Financials | 8.9% | 0.0% | +8.9pp |
| Health Care | 6.7% | 0.0% | +6.7pp |
| Industrials | 6.0% | 0.0% | +6.0pp |
| Communication Services | 5.1% | 0.0% | +5.1pp |
| Consumer Discretionary | 4.7% | 0.0% | +4.7pp |
Δ is ABALX minus TIP, in percentage points. Sector data is not published by every issuer, so “Unclassified” is a real category rather than a gap in the table.
What each fund holds alone
88.4% of ABALX by weight, held in no part of TIP.
0.0% of TIP by weight, held in no part of ABALX.
A large count with a small weight is the usual shape: the positions one fund adds are typically its smallest ones.
Concentration and cost
| ABALX | TIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 10 holdings | 36.3% | 100.0% |
| Positions held | 1,439 | 5 |
| Cost per $10,000 held, per year | $56 | $18 |
Cost is the expense ratio applied to $10,000; it excludes any brokerage commission, bid-ask spread or tax consequence. Figures are facts about the funds, not a suggestion about which to hold.
Frequently asked
How much do ABALX and TIP overlap?
ABALX and TIP overlap 12.3% by portfolio weight — largely distinct portfolios. They share 4 holdings. The figure comes from current issuer holdings files (ABALX as of 2026-03-31, TIP as of 2026-07-23).
How is the overlap between ABALX and TIP calculated?
As the sum of the smaller weight in each fund, over every holding both funds own: Σ min(wA, wB). If ABALX holds a stock at 6% and TIP holds the same stock at 4%, 4% counts as shared. The result is bounded between 0% and 100%, and it is computed after looking through any fund-of-funds to the underlying holdings.
Is it redundant to hold both ABALX and TIP?
That depends on your goals — we state facts, not advice. At 12.3% overlap, each fund still contributes meaningfully distinct exposure.
What does ABALX own that TIP doesn't?
ABALX holds 1,439 positions and TIP holds 5; 1,434 of ABALX's positions don't appear in TIP at all, and they are 88.4% of ABALX by weight.
You probably hold more than two funds
This page compares ABALX and TIP. Paste your whole portfolio — brokerage, 401(k), IRA — and see the overlap across every fund at once, plus what you actually own underneath them and your own Effective Funds number. Free, no account, nothing stored.
X-ray my portfolio — free →Watch ABALX vs TIP
We re-read both funds’ published holdings every weeknight. Leave an address and we'll tell you when what's inside actually changes.
Not sending yet — email alerts are built but switched off, and you'll be among the first when they turn on. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.
Related comparisons
Sources: issuer holdings files, ABALX as of 2026-03-31, TIP as of 2026-07-23. Weights are fractions of each fund. Diagnostics, not advice.