AAUS vs. PSMD

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

AAUS (Alpha Architect US Equity ETF) and PSMD (Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (December) ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AAUS is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Alpha Architect, while PSMD is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by Pacer. Both are actively managed. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. AAUS charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for PSMD.

Performance

AAUS vs. PSMD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) and Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (December) ETF (PSMD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AAUS achieves a 9.11% return, which is significantly higher than PSMD's 6.15% return.

AAUS

• 1D: -0.60%
• 1M: 0.35%
• 6M: 8.07%
• YTD: 9.11%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

PSMD

• 1D: -0.17%
• 1M: 0.47%
• 6M: 5.33%
• YTD: 6.15%
• 1Y: 12.77%
• 3Y*: 11.91%
• 5Y*: 9.23%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AAUS vs. PSMD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	9.11%	10.11%
PSMD Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (December) ETF	6.15%	5.74%

Correlation

The correlation between AAUS and PSMD is 0.89, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2025	0.89

Return for Risk

AAUS vs. PSMD — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

AAUS

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

PSMD

PSMD Risk / Return Rank: 85
PSMD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 87
PSMD Sortino Ratio Rank: 89
PSMD Omega Ratio Rank: 90
PSMD Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
PSMD Martin Ratio Rank: 88

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

AAUS vs. PSMD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) and Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (December) ETF (PSMD). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	AAUS	PSMD	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	2.23	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	3.32	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.46	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	2.90	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	15.03	—

Drawdowns

AAUS vs. PSMD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AAUS drawdown since its inception was -9.13%, smaller than the maximum PSMD drawdown of -11.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAUS and PSMD.

Drawdown Indicators

	AAUS	PSMD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-9.13%	-11.96%	+2.83%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-4.42%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-10.70%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-11.96%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.08%	-0.17%	-0.91%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.39%	-1.63%	+0.24%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	0.85%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	AAUS	PSMD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	1.60%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	4.88%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.67%	5.74%	+6.93%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.67%	8.64%	+4.03%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	12.67%	8.43%	+4.24%

AAUS vs. PSMD - Expense Ratio Comparison

AAUS has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than PSMD's 0.75% expense ratio.

Dividends

AAUS vs. PSMD - Dividend Comparison

AAUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.34%, while PSMD has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	0.34%	0.37%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
PSMD Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (December) ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.47%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AAUS and PSMD in my portfolio?

AAUS and PSMD have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, AAUS or PSMD?

On fees, AAUS is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, AAUS or PSMD?

AAUS is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for PSMD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, AAUS or PSMD?

AAUS has the higher dividend yield at 0.34%, compared with 0.00% for PSMD.

What is the main difference between AAUS and PSMD?

AAUS is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while PSMD is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: Alpha Architect and Pacer. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for AAUS and 0.75% for PSMD.