The problem of estimating a ratio of variance components in the balanced one-way random effects model is considered. It is shown that in terms of mean squared error, the ML, REML (or truncated ANOVA), and Bayes modal estimators (using the noninformative prior) are inadmissible. An estimator that dominates all three is derived. Two other estimators that are adaptive in nature are also introduced. The new estimators are shown to possess much-improved mean squared error properties. The results easily extend to balanced higher-way random or mixed effects models.