Proshares Large Cap Core Plus (CSM) belongs to the Long-Short category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with CSM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to CSM
CSM charges 0.45% annually. There is 1 ETF in the Long-Short category with a lower expense ratio, going as low as 0.40%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Flexible Equity Active ETF | 0.40% | 1.61B | May 2026 | CSM vs BFLX | |
| Aptus International Enhanced Yield ETF | 0.45% | 490.37M | Jul 2021 | CSM vs IDUB | |
| Arin Tactical Tail Risk ETF | 0.63% | — | Oct 2025 | CSM vs ATTR | |
| Franklin Liberty Systematic Style Premia ETF | 0.65% | 1.04B | Dec 2019 | CSM vs FLSP | |
| ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF | 0.65% | 7.48M | Nov 2017 | CSM vs CLIX |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to CSM
CSM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 73. There are 8 ETFs in the Long-Short category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF | 96 | 447.61M | Dec 2009 | CSM vs CLSE | |
| Franklin Liberty Systematic Style Premia ETF | 88 | 1.04B | Dec 2019 | CSM vs FLSP | |
| NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF | 83 | 1.02B | Mar 2009 | CSM vs QAI | |
| ProShares Hedge Replication | 80 | 22.00M | Jul 2011 | CSM vs HDG | |
| Aptus International Enhanced Yield ETF | 78 | 490.37M | Jul 2021 | CSM vs IDUB |
Top Performing CSM Alternatives (YTD)
CSM is at 9.15% YTD. There are 10 ETFs in the Long-Short category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 24.37%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF | 24.37% | 447.61M | Dec 2009 | CSM vs CLSE | |
| Harbor Long-Short Equity ETF | 23.37% | 15.30M | Dec 2023 | CSM vs LSEQ | |
| Aptus International Enhanced Yield ETF | 15.21% | 490.37M | Jul 2021 | CSM vs IDUB | |
| Efficient Market Portfolio Plus ETF | 14.62% | — | Dec 2024 | CSM vs EMPB | |
| Militia Long/Short Equity ETF | 13.55% | 138.61M | Jan 2025 | CSM vs ORR |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to CSM
CSM has 12.69% 1-year volatility. There are 11 ETFs in the Long-Short category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.30%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arin Tactical Tail Risk ETF | 3.30% | — | Oct 2025 | CSM vs ATTR | |
| ProShares Hedge Replication | 6.41% | 22.00M | Jul 2011 | CSM vs HDG | |
| Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral ETF | 6.65% | 106.80M | Sep 2025 | CSM vs MKTN | |
| NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF | 6.85% | 1.02B | Mar 2009 | CSM vs QAI | |
| AltShares Event-Driven ETF | 7.57% | 8.62M | Dec 2014 | CSM vs EVNT |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to CSM
CSM has a 1-year max drawdown of -9.40%. There are 10 ETFs in the Long-Short category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -3.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AltShares Event-Driven ETF | -3.35% | 8.62M | Dec 2014 | CSM vs EVNT | |
| NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF | -3.71% | 1.02B | Mar 2009 | CSM vs QAI | |
| First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | -3.79% | 2.49B | Sep 2014 | CSM vs FTLS | |
| ProShares Hedge Replication | -3.97% | 22.00M | Jul 2011 | CSM vs HDG | |
| Franklin Liberty Systematic Style Premia ETF | -4.03% | 1.04B | Dec 2019 | CSM vs FLSP |
Other ETFs from ProShares
The 10 most viewed ProShares ETFs shown here include TQQQ, QLD, BITO and span 10 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $33B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares UltraPro QQQ | Leveraged Equities | 36 | 23.06% | 32.83B | Feb 2010 | CSM vs TQQQ | |
| ProShares Ultra QQQ | Leveraged Equities | 39 | 18.94% | 12.76B | Jun 2006 | CSM vs QLD | |
| ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF | Cryptocurrency | 1 | -29.42% | 1.41B | Oct 2021 | CSM vs BITO | |
| ProShares UltraPro S&P 500 | Leveraged Equities, S&P 500 | 50 | 21.72% | 5.15B | Jun 2009 | CSM vs UPRO | |
| ProShares Ultra S&P500 | Leveraged Equities, S&P 500 | 54 | 16.14% | 7.81B | Jun 2006 | CSM vs SSO | |
| ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | Dividend, S&P 500, Large Cap Value Equities | 47 | 10.84% | 11.68B | Oct 2013 | CSM vs NOBL | |
| ProShares Ultra Semiconductors | Leveraged Equities, Semiconductors | 52 | 50.25% | 2.47B | Jan 2007 | CSM vs USD | |
| ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ | Leveraged Equities, Inverse Equities, Nasdaq-100 | 2 | -34.61% | 2.00B | Feb 2010 | CSM vs SQQQ | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | Nasdaq-100, Derivative Income, Dividend | 44 | 10.08% | 394.37M | Mar 2024 | CSM vs IQQQ | |
| ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF | Volatility | 2 | -35.24% | 244.68M | Oct 2011 | CSM vs UVXY |
Often Compared With CSM
Investors most often compare CSM with SPY, VOO, QQQ. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare CSM with Any Fund or Stock
Compare CSM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair CSM with funds that move differently
Proshares Large Cap Core Plus alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to CSM.
Explore CSM Diversifiers