BWZ vs. YCS
BWZ (SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - BWZ is a International Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Treasury (1-3 Y) Customized, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, BWZ returned -0.44%/yr vs 12.32%/yr for YCS. At a correlation of -0.54, they often move in opposite directions. BWZ charges 0.35%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.
Performance
BWZ vs. YCS - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BWZ achieves a -0.10% return, which is significantly lower than YCS's 6.99% return. Over the past 10 years, BWZ has underperformed YCS with an annualized return of -0.44%, while YCS has yielded a comparatively higher 12.32% annualized return.
BWZ
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- -0.63%
- YTD
- -0.10%
- 6M
- 1.00%
- 1Y
- -0.05%
- 3Y*
- 2.76%
- 5Y*
- -1.78%
- 10Y*
- -0.44%
YCS
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- 4.27%
- YTD
- 6.99%
- 6M
- 8.81%
- 1Y
- 35.19%
- 3Y*
- 19.77%
- 5Y*
- 23.16%
- 10Y*
- 12.32%
BWZ vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BWZ SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF | -0.10% | 10.47% | -5.31% | 2.97% | -10.56% | -6.85% | 6.47% | 0.99% | -3.36% | 10.18% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 6.99% | 9.04% | 35.41% | 28.70% | 29.09% | 22.38% | -11.18% | 3.37% | -1.49% | -6.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between BWZ and YCS is -0.75, 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 | -0.75 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.70 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.69 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.62 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 2, 2009 | -0.54 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between BWZ and YCS has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.54 to -0.75, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BWZ vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank
BWZ
YCS
BWZ vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF (BWZ) 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.
| BWZ | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.01 | 2.05 | -2.05 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.04 | 2.59 | -2.55 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.37 | -0.37 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.13 | 3.95 | -3.82 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.31 | 12.35 | -12.04 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BWZ | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.01 | 2.05 | -2.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.24 | 1.10 | -1.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.06 | 0.65 | -0.71 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.02 | 0.33 | -0.35 |
Drawdowns
BWZ vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BWZ drawdown since its inception was -34.23%, smaller than the maximum YCS drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BWZ and YCS.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BWZ | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.23% | -49.56% | +15.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.15% | -8.30% | +3.15% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.60% | -23.05% | +14.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.58% | -27.32% | +3.74% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.90% | -27.32% | +2.42% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -21.99% | -0.04% | -21.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.10% | -19.94% | +3.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.24% | 2.66% | -0.42% |
Volatility
BWZ vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF (BWZ) is 1.79%, while ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) has a volatility of 2.75%. This indicates that BWZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than YCS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BWZ | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.79% | 2.75% | -0.96% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.95% | 12.36% | -7.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.95% | 17.38% | -10.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.60% | 21.11% | -13.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.95% | 19.02% | -12.07% |
BWZ vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison
BWZ has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
BWZ vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison
BWZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.08%, while YCS has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BWZ SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF | 2.08% | 2.05% | 2.47% | 1.63% | 0.44% | 0.60% | 0.13% | 0.43% | 1.10% | 0.40% | 0.13% | 0.06% |
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
BWZ and YCS have a correlation of -0.75, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
YCS has higher volatility (2.75%) compared to BWZ (1.79%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BWZ dropped -34.23% vs YCS's -49.56%.
On 10-year performance, YCS leads with 12.32% vs -0.44% for BWZ. On fees, BWZ is cheaper at 0.35% per year. On volatility, BWZ has been the lower-risk option at 1.79%. 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 12.32% return vs -0.44%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BWZ is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for YCS.
BWZ has the higher dividend yield at 2.08%, compared with 0.00% for YCS.
BWZ is categorized as International Government Bonds, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. BWZ tracks Bloomberg Global Treasury (1-3 Y) Customized, while YCS tracks USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). They also come from different issuers: State Street and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for BWZ and 1.00% for YCS.
YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.05 vs -0.01), 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.
Find the right allocation for BWZ and YCS
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer