CAS vs. MDST

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

CAS (Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF) and MDST (Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - CAS is a China Equities fund actively managed by Simplify, while MDST is a Energy Equities fund actively managed by Westwood. Both are actively managed. Their -0.35 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. CAS charges 0.88%/yr vs 0.80%/yr for MDST.

Performance

CAS vs. MDST - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF (CAS) and Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

CAS

• 1D: 1.08%
• 1M: -11.07%
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: —

MDST

• 1D: 0.55%
• 1M: 2.48%
• 6M: 12.41%
• YTD: 18.37%
• 1Y: 20.59%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 18.64%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
CAS Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF	$38.47K	$52.48K	$79.55K
MDST Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF	$1.68M	$1.58M	$1.75M

CAS vs. MDST - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
CAS Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF	-11.11%
MDST Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF	1.84%

Correlation

The correlation between CAS and MDST is -0.35, meaning they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. This relationship can weaken or reverse as market conditions change.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 28, 2026	-0.35

CAS vs. MDST - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	CAS	MDST
Financial Services	46.5%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	98.5%
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	0.8%
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

CAS vs. MDST — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

CAS

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

MDST

MDST Risk / Return Rank: 66
MDST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 61
MDST Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
MDST Omega Ratio Rank: 59
MDST Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
MDST Martin Ratio Rank: 68

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

CAS vs. MDST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF (CAS) and Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST). 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.

	CAS	MDST	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	1.44	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	2.06	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.26	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	2.95	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	8.30	—

Drawdowns

CAS vs. MDST - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CAS drawdown since its inception was -15.89%, which is greater than MDST's maximum drawdown of -14.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CAS and MDST.

Drawdown Indicators

	CAS	MDST	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-15.89%	-14.19%	-1.70%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-5.98%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-14.28%	-1.87%	-12.41%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.19%	-2.17%	-4.02%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	2.53%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	CAS	MDST	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	4.47%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	9.18%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	33.97%	12.69%	+21.28%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	33.97%	16.04%	+17.93%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	33.97%	16.04%	+17.93%

CAS vs. MDST - Expense Ratio Comparison

CAS has a 0.88% expense ratio, which is higher than MDST's 0.80% expense ratio.

Dividends

CAS vs. MDST - Dividend Comparison

CAS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.46%, less than MDST's 9.20% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
CAS Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF	2.46%	0.00%	0.00%
MDST Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF	9.20%	10.22%	6.60%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CAS and MDST in my portfolio?

CAS and MDST have a correlation of -0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, CAS or MDST?

On fees, MDST is cheaper at 0.80% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CAS or MDST?

MDST is cheaper with a 0.80% expense ratio, compared with 0.88% for CAS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, CAS or MDST?

MDST has the higher dividend yield at 9.20%, compared with 2.46% for CAS.

What is the main difference between CAS and MDST?

CAS is categorized as China Equities, while MDST is Energy Equities. They also come from different issuers: Simplify and Westwood. Their fees differ too: 0.88% for CAS and 0.80% for MDST.