At a glance
EAOR charges 0.18% a year, below the 0.86% average of the 7 funds most like it (the cheapest of 8). It has $32.6M in assets, the 8th largest of that group; it paid 1.89% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, semiannual. Over the past year it returned +8.8% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), the weakest of those 8 funds; over three years it returned +16.3% a year. At its worst it fell 22.1% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 18 months after the low.
The short version
The iShares ESG Aware 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (EAOR) is a fund of funds that tracks the BlackRock ESG Aware Balanced Allocation Index, holding five iShares ESG funds to target 60% stocks and 40% investment-grade bonds. It offers a balanced portfolio in one fund, tilted toward issuers with positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) traits, for 0.18% a year. One drawback is size: $32.6 million in net assets as of July 31, 2026.
Price history
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EAOR +8.8% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAOR official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +10.61% | — | — | — | +7.07% |
| MSCI All Country World Index Net index, same period | — | +17.49% | — | — | — | +13.12% |
| Bloomberg US Universal Index index, same period | — | +2.04% | — | — | — | -0.95% |
| EAOR price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +8.8% | +8.8% | +16.3% | +6.1% | — | +6.7% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, EAOR returned +8.8%, 8th of 8 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +6.1%.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-16.7%); its best was 2025 (+15.6%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 22.9% (Nov 8, 2021 to Oct 14, 2022), recovered by May 15, 2024.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +8.8% | — |
| 2025 | +15.6% | — |
| 2024 | +10.6% | +10.61% |
| 2023 | +15.0% | +15.06% |
| 2022 | -16.7% | -16.90% |
| 2021 | — | +10.81% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 22% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 22.1%, back to its old high 17.5 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.4200 | |
| 2025 | $0.8600 | +10.3% |
| 2024 | $0.7800 | +11.4% |
| 2023 | $0.7000 | +37.3% |
| 2022 | $0.5100 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 5 securities; the ten largest made up 99.91% of assets.
| Fund held | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Other | 38.18% | |
| iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF Other | 37.96% | |
| iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF Other | 12.96% | |
| iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF Other | 6.98% | |
| iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF Other | 3.83% |
By country
United States 99.91%By asset type
Other 99.91%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors added a net $21K (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +3.10%, +0.15%, -0.85%.
How it works
EAOR is a fund of funds: it owns other iShares ETFs, not individual stocks and bonds. It tracks the BlackRock ESG Aware Balanced Allocation Index, which holds a fixed 60% in stock funds and 40% in funds of US dollar investment-grade bonds (bonds from issuers judged likely to repay). Each underlying fund favors issuers with positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) traits. As of July 31, 2026, the iShares ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF was 38.2%, the ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF 38.0%, MSCI EAFE (developed markets abroad) 13.0%, MSCI EM (emerging markets) 7.0% and MSCI USA Small-Cap 3.8%.
The index rebalances twice a year, after the close on the last business day of April and October, and the fund resets to 60/40. In between, the mix drifts with markets: as of July 31, 2025, it was about 63% stocks and 37% bonds, with the rest in money market funds. Portfolio turnover was just 4%.
The fund does not try to beat its index or move to cash when markets fall. It generally keeps at least 80% of assets in index components and may put up to 20% in futures, options, swaps or cash. Because BlackRock's adviser picks the underlying funds and collects fees from them, the prospectus flags a potential conflict of interest.
What it really costs
- EAOR charges 0.18% a year, versus an average of 0.86% for the similar funds below (1st of 8, cheapest first).
- The fee includes a 0.14% waiver from the adviser, which may end.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $18 in the first year and $329 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAOR | $18 | $58 | $101 | $329 |
Structure and tax notes
- Invests in other funds rather than directly in stocks or bonds, so its holdings are those funds.
In a retirement portfolio
Its fixed 60/40 mix of US and international stocks and investment-grade bonds is built to work as a whole balanced portfolio in one fund, not a niche add-on.
EAOR puts US and international stocks and investment-grade bonds in one fund, which can simplify a retirement account. It launched in June 2020, after the 2008 and 2020 crashes. In the 2022 bear market it fell 22.1% and took about 17.5 months to recover, as rising interest rates pushed bond prices down alongside stocks. Its deepest drop, 22.9% from November 2021 to October 2022, took about 19 months to recover; 2022 was its worst calendar year, a loss of 16.9%. Withdrawals near that low would have tapped shares down more than a fifth.
Income is modest: a trailing 12-month yield of 1.89% as of October 27, 2026, paid twice a year. Costs are low, at $18 in the first year per $10,000 under the SEC's standard example. Past results don't predict future returns, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- People wanting one fund with US, international and emerging-market stocks plus investment-grade bonds, held in a 60/40 mix reset twice a year.
- Cost-conscious savers wanting an ESG tilt across all five underlying funds at 0.18% a year, about $18 per $10,000 in the SEC's example.
- Patient holders who can sit through drops like the 22.9% slide of 2021–2022, which took about 19 months to recover.
Look elsewhere if
- Retirees needing steady monthly income: the trailing yield was 1.89% as of October 27, 2026, and payouts arrive only twice a year.
- Those who prefer larger funds: net assets were about $32.6 million as of July 31, 2026, and small funds are more likely to close.
- Those wanting built-in downside protection: the fund doesn't move to cash in declines, and it fell 22.1% during the 2022 bear market.
Close alternatives
Matched by other buffer (defined-outcome) funds, largest first.
| Fund | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAOR this fund | 0.18% | $32.6M | +8.8% | +16.3% |
| BUFR FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF | 0.95% | $10.49B | +11.6% | +16.8% |
| BUFD FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | 0.95% | $2.04B | +9.5% | +13.9% |
| PJAN Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Ja… | 0.79% | $1.44B | +10.5% | +14.8% |
| PDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - De… | 0.79% | $984.1M | +11.6% | +14.9% |
| FDEC FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - December | 0.85% | $1.31B | +12.9% | +18.5% |
| FJAN FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - January | 0.85% | $1.47B | +12.3% | +17.4% |
| FFEB FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer Fund - February | 0.85% | $1.42B | +12.9% | +18.6% |
Questions investors ask
What does EAOR invest in?
EAOR invests in five other iShares ESG Aware ETFs rather than individual stocks and bonds. As of July 31, 2026, they were the U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (38.2%), MSCI USA ETF (38.0%), MSCI EAFE ETF (13.0%, developed markets outside North America), MSCI EM ETF (7.0%, emerging markets) and MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (3.8%). Together they target 60% stocks and 40% investment-grade bonds. The prospectus warns that ESG rules narrow the choice of investments, so the fund may lag funds without them.
Does EAOR pay monthly dividends?
No. EAOR pays distributions twice a year, not monthly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid about $0.72 per share, a trailing yield of 1.89%. Payouts come from the interest and dividends earned by its underlying stock and bond funds, so amounts can vary from one payment to the next. That timing may not fit investors who rely on a monthly check.
What is EAOR's expense ratio?
EAOR's expense ratio is 0.18% a year, according to its prospectus filed November 21, 2025, a figure that reflects a 0.14% fee waiver. In the SEC's standard example, which assumes $10,000 invested and a 5% annual return, costs total about $18 after one year, $58 after three, $101 after five and $329 after ten. Several buffer ETFs, such as BUFR, charge 0.79% to 0.95%, though they follow a different, options-based strategy.
How has EAOR performed?
Its returns have landed between those of global stocks and US bonds. Through December 31, 2024, the prospectus shows a 10.61% one-year return and 7.07% a year since the June 2020 launch, while the MSCI All Country World Index Net gained 17.49% and the Bloomberg US Universal Index 2.04% over that year. Based on share prices through October 27, 2026, EAOR returned 8.8% over one year and 6.1% a year over five. Its worst calendar year was 2022, a 16.9% loss.
What's the difference between EAOR and BUFR?
EAOR is a stock-and-bond fund, while the FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) is a buffer, or defined-outcome, fund. Buffer funds use options to absorb part of a stock-market loss over a set period in exchange for capped gains; EAOR relies instead on its roughly 40% bond allocation to soften declines. BUFR charges 0.95% versus 0.18%. As of October 27, 2026, BUFR returned 11.6% over one year and 16.8% a year over three, versus 8.8% and 16.3% for EAOR.