BCS vs. SDS

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Barclays PLC (BCS) and ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (SDS).

SDS is a passively managed fund by ProShares that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index (-200%). It was launched on Jul 11, 2006.

Performance

BCS vs. SDS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Barclays PLC (BCS) and ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (SDS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

BCS vs. SDS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BCS Barclays PLC	-15.86%	96.49%	76.26%	6.01%	-21.90%	31.71%	-12.84%	31.90%	-29.25%	0.44%
SDS ProShares UltraShort S&P500	10.48%	-26.79%	-29.45%	-31.53%	30.69%	-43.02%	-49.91%	-41.17%	6.04%	-32.02%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BCS achieves a -15.86% return, which is significantly lower than SDS's 10.48% return. Over the past 10 years, BCS has outperformed SDS with an annualized return of 12.78%, while SDS has yielded a comparatively lower -25.89% annualized return.

BCS

• 1D: 4.70%
• 1M: -12.85%
• YTD: -15.86%
• 6M: 3.60%
• 1Y: 40.55%
• 3Y*: 48.18%
• 5Y*: 19.89%
• 10Y*: 12.78%

SDS

• 1D: -5.73%
• 1M: 10.80%
• YTD: 10.48%
• 6M: 6.56%
• 1Y: -26.71%
• 3Y*: -23.57%
• 5Y*: -19.27%
• 10Y*: -25.89%

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

Return for Risk

BCS vs. SDS — Risk / Return Rank

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

BCS

BCS Risk / Return Rank: 76
BCS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
BCS Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
BCS Omega Ratio Rank: 73
BCS Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
BCS Martin Ratio Rank: 79

SDS

SDS Risk / Return Rank: 3
SDS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2
SDS Sortino Ratio Rank: 2
SDS Omega Ratio Rank: 2
SDS Calmar Ratio Rank: 3
SDS Martin Ratio Rank: 7

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.

BCS vs. SDS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Barclays PLC (BCS) and ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (SDS). 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.

	BCS	SDS	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.30	-0.74	+2.03
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.77	-0.90	+2.68
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.24	0.87	+0.37
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.54	-0.57	+2.10
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.42	-0.68	+6.10
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BCS vs. SDS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BCS Sharpe Ratio is 1.30, which is higher than the SDS Sharpe Ratio of -0.74. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BCS and SDS, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BCS	SDS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.30	-0.74	+2.03
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.59	-0.58	+1.16
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.34	-0.73	+1.07
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.17	-0.63	+0.80

Correlation

The correlation between BCS and SDS is -0.60. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.

Dividends

BCS vs. SDS - Dividend Comparison

BCS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.21%, less than SDS's 4.35% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BCS Barclays PLC	2.21%	1.70%	3.13%	4.86%	4.18%	1.61%	3.91%	3.68%	3.21%	1.37%	2.26%	2.95%
SDS ProShares UltraShort S&P500	4.35%	5.88%	7.89%	5.77%	0.35%	0.00%	0.92%	1.84%	1.28%	0.09%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

BCS vs. SDS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BCS drawdown since its inception was -94.36%, smaller than the maximum SDS drawdown of -99.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BCS and SDS.

Drawdown Indicators

	BCS	SDS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-94.36%	-99.82%	+5.46%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-26.20%	-48.71%	+22.51%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-48.14%	-71.16%	+23.02%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-66.10%	-95.85%	+29.75%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-37.43%	-99.80%	+62.37%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-38.46%	-82.58%	+44.12%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	7.42%	40.73%	-33.31%

Volatility

BCS vs. SDS - Volatility Comparison

Barclays PLC (BCS) has a higher volatility of 11.96% compared to ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (SDS) at 10.69%. This indicates that BCS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SDS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BCS	SDS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.96%	10.69%	+1.27%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	21.39%	18.87%	+2.52%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	31.39%	36.42%	-5.03%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	33.89%	33.67%	+0.22%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	37.72%	35.79%	+1.93%