BFOR vs. YCS
BFOR (ALPS Barron's 400 ETF) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - BFOR is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Barron's 400 Index, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, BFOR returned 13.11%/yr vs 13.62%/yr for YCS. At a 0.18 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BFOR charges 0.65%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.
Performance
BFOR vs. YCS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BFOR achieves a 12.73% return, which is significantly higher than YCS's 9.63% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with BFOR having a 13.11% annualized return and YCS not far ahead at 13.62%.
BFOR
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- 3.66%
- YTD
- 12.73%
- 6M
- 10.60%
- 1Y
- 24.60%
- 3Y*
- 20.01%
- 5Y*
- 10.60%
- 10Y*
- 13.11%
YCS
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- 3.57%
- YTD
- 9.63%
- 6M
- 10.44%
- 1Y
- 31.27%
- 3Y*
- 18.37%
- 5Y*
- 23.52%
- 10Y*
- 13.62%
BFOR vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BFOR ALPS Barron's 400 ETF | 12.73% | 13.85% | 17.81% | 18.19% | -15.92% | 30.71% | 17.60% | 21.30% | -13.86% | 19.37% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 9.63% | 9.04% | 35.41% | 28.70% | 29.09% | 22.38% | -11.18% | 3.37% | -1.49% | -6.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between BFOR and YCS is -0.18, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.18 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.02 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 4, 2013 | 0.18 |
The correlation between BFOR and YCS shifts across timeframes, from -0.18 (1 year) to 0.18 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BFOR vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank
BFOR
YCS
BFOR vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ALPS Barron's 400 ETF (BFOR) and ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS). 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.
| BFOR | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.34 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.75 | 3.78 | -1.03 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.06 | 11.93 | -1.87 |
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Drawdowns
BFOR vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BFOR drawdown since its inception was -41.27%, smaller than the maximum YCS drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BFOR and YCS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BFOR | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.27% | -49.56% | +8.29% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.98% | -8.30% | -0.68% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.91% | -23.05% | +1.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.93% | -27.32% | +1.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.27% | -27.32% | -13.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.71% | -0.14% | -0.57% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.40% | -19.87% | +13.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.45% | 2.65% | -0.20% |
Volatility
BFOR vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison
ALPS Barron's 400 ETF (BFOR) has a higher volatility of 4.11% compared to ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) at 2.25%. This indicates that BFOR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than YCS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BFOR | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.11% | 2.25% | +1.86% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.97% | 12.19% | -1.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.03% | 16.93% | -1.90% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.46% | 21.10% | -1.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.40% | 18.82% | +1.58% |
BFOR vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison
BFOR has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
BFOR vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison
BFOR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.53%, while YCS has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BFOR ALPS Barron's 400 ETF | 0.53% | 0.60% | 0.69% | 1.26% | 1.68% | 0.92% | 0.98% | 0.69% | 0.94% | 0.60% | 0.78% | 0.86% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BFOR and YCS have a correlation of -0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BFOR has higher volatility (4.11%) compared to YCS (2.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BFOR dropped -41.27% vs YCS's -49.56%.
On 10-year performance, YCS leads with 13.62% vs 13.11% for BFOR. On fees, BFOR is cheaper at 0.65% per year. On volatility, YCS has been the lower-risk option at 2.25%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, YCS has performed better with a 13.62% return vs 13.11%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BFOR is cheaper with a 0.65% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for YCS.
BFOR has the higher dividend yield at 0.53%, compared with 0.00% for YCS.
BFOR is categorized as Mid Cap Blend Equities, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. BFOR tracks Barron's 400 Index, while YCS tracks USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). They also come from different issuers: SS&C and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for BFOR and 1.00% for YCS.
YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.86 vs 1.65), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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