BDCZ vs. MLPB

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about ETRACS MVIS Business Development Companies Index ETN (BDCZ) and ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B (MLPB).

BDCZ and MLPB are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. BDCZ is a passively managed fund by UBS that tracks the performance of the BDCZ-US - MVIS US Business Development Companies Index. It was launched on Oct 8, 2015. MLPB is a passively managed fund by UBS that tracks the performance of the Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index. It was launched on Oct 8, 2015. Both BDCZ and MLPB are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ETRACS MVIS Business Development Companies Index ETN (BDCZ) and ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B (MLPB). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BDCZ ETRACS MVIS Business Development Companies Index ETN	-8.73%	-3.72%	12.22%	25.31%	-9.12%	33.97%	-10.95%	26.00%	-7.64%	0.40%
MLPB ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B	16.69%	7.40%	25.53%	22.01%	30.22%	39.42%	-30.80%	5.69%	-8.79%	-9.71%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BDCZ achieves a -8.73% return, which is significantly lower than MLPB's 16.69% return. Over the past 10 years, BDCZ has underperformed MLPB with an annualized return of 6.43%, while MLPB has yielded a comparatively higher 9.55% annualized return.

BDCZ

• 1D: 2.11%
• 1M: 1.43%
• YTD: -8.73%
• 6M: -7.68%
• 1Y: -13.06%
• 3Y*: 5.89%
• 5Y*: 4.84%
• 10Y*: 6.43%

MLPB

• 1D: -1.54%
• 1M: 1.21%
• YTD: 16.69%
• 6M: 20.26%
• 1Y: 11.98%
• 3Y*: 22.94%
• 5Y*: 23.10%
• 10Y*: 9.55%

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

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both BDCZ and MLPB have an expense ratio of 0.85%.

BDCZ

ETRACS MVIS Business Development Companies Index ETN

MLPB

ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B

Return for Risk

BDCZ vs. MLPB — Risk / Return Rank

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

BDCZ

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

MLPB

MLPB Risk / Return Rank: 32
MLPB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
MLPB Sortino Ratio Rank: 33
MLPB Omega Ratio Rank: 36
MLPB Calmar Ratio Rank: 29
MLPB Martin Ratio Rank: 25

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.

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ETRACS MVIS Business Development Companies Index ETN (BDCZ) and ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B (MLPB). 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.

	BDCZ	MLPB	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	-0.58	0.64	-1.22
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	-0.68	0.93	-1.60
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.91	1.14	-0.23
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.67	0.69	-1.36
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	-1.38	1.81	-3.18
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BDCZ Sharpe Ratio is -0.58, which is lower than the MLPB Sharpe Ratio of 0.64. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BDCZ and MLPB, 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

	BDCZ	MLPB	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.58	0.64	-1.22
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.28	1.15	-0.87
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.30	0.34	-0.04
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.27	0.23	+0.04

Correlation

The correlation between BDCZ and MLPB is 0.42, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Dividend Comparison

BDCZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.88%, more than MLPB's 5.83% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
BDCZ ETRACS MVIS Business Development Companies Index ETN	11.88%	10.65%	9.26%	9.13%	9.39%	7.49%	10.01%	8.40%	9.66%	8.74%	7.98%
MLPB ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B	5.83%	6.51%	5.95%	6.37%	6.00%	6.98%	11.93%	7.98%	8.11%	7.23%	6.85%

Drawdowns

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BDCZ drawdown since its inception was -55.63%, smaller than the maximum MLPB drawdown of -71.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BDCZ and MLPB.

Drawdown Indicators

	BDCZ	MLPB	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-55.63%	-71.93%	+16.30%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.95%	-16.49%	-3.46%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-23.12%	-20.41%	-2.71%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-55.63%	-71.93%	+16.30%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-17.94%	-2.68%	-15.26%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.75%	-15.03%	+7.28%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	9.71%	6.26%	+3.45%

Volatility

BDCZ vs. MLPB - Volatility Comparison

ETRACS MVIS Business Development Companies Index ETN (BDCZ) has a higher volatility of 5.99% compared to ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B (MLPB) at 3.72%. This indicates that BDCZ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MLPB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BDCZ	MLPB	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.99%	3.72%	+2.27%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.22%	8.96%	+7.26%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.66%	18.75%	+3.91%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.43%	20.14%	-2.71%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.56%	28.10%	-6.54%