CWS vs. BRK-B

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

CWS (AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF) is Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by AdvisorShares, while BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 5 years, CWS returned 8.08%/yr vs 12.29%/yr for BRK-B. A 0.54 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

CWS vs. BRK-B - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF (CWS) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CWS achieves a -0.26% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-B's -1.15% return.

CWS

• 1D: 0.58%
• 1M: -0.56%
• 6M: -3.64%
• YTD: -0.26%
• 1Y: -1.11%
• 3Y*: 8.36%
• 5Y*: 8.08%
• 10Y*: —

BRK-B

• 1D: 0.64%
• 1M: 1.55%
• 6M: -0.36%
• YTD: -1.15%
• 1Y: 4.41%
• 3Y*: 13.36%
• 5Y*: 12.29%
• 10Y*: 13.03%

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

CWS vs. BRK-B - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
CWS AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF	-0.26%	6.43%	9.82%	25.06%	-10.42%	22.20%	17.12%	30.97%	-6.46%	20.92%
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-1.15%	10.89%	27.09%	15.46%	3.31%	28.95%	2.37%	10.93%	3.01%	21.62%

Correlation

The correlation between CWS and BRK-B is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.23
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.43
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.53
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 21, 2016	0.54

Over the past year, the correlation between CWS and BRK-B has dropped to 0.23 - well below their long-term average of 0.54, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

CWS vs. BRK-B — Risk / Return Rank

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

CWS

CWS Risk / Return Rank: 8
CWS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8
CWS Sortino Ratio Rank: 8
CWS Omega Ratio Rank: 8
CWS Calmar Ratio Rank: 8
CWS Martin Ratio Rank: 8

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 53
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 57
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 47
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 57

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.

CWS vs. BRK-B - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF (CWS) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). 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.

	CWS	BRK-B	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.08	0.31	-0.39
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-0.02	0.52	-0.54
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.00	1.06	-0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.09	0.47	-0.56
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.23	0.99	-1.22

CWS vs. BRK-B - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CWS Sharpe Ratio is -0.08, which is lower than the BRK-B Sharpe Ratio of 0.31. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CWS and BRK-B, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

CWS vs. BRK-B - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CWS drawdown since its inception was -33.82%, smaller than the maximum BRK-B drawdown of -53.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CWS and BRK-B.

Drawdown Indicators

	CWS	BRK-B	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.82%	-53.86%	+20.04%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.92%	-9.42%	-2.50%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-16.56%	-14.95%	-1.61%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.87%	-26.58%	+1.71%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-29.57%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.75%	-7.96%	+3.21%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.55%	-11.06%	+6.51%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.80%	4.45%	+0.35%

Volatility

CWS vs. BRK-B - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF (CWS) is 3.55%, while Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a volatility of 4.39%. This indicates that CWS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BRK-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CWS	BRK-B	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.55%	4.39%	-0.84%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.41%	10.97%	-0.56%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.48%	14.54%	-1.06%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.69%	17.11%	-1.42%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.87%	19.40%	-2.53%

Dividends

CWS vs. BRK-B - Dividend Comparison

CWS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.31%, while BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
CWS AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF	0.31%	0.31%	0.59%	0.25%	0.50%	0.16%	0.27%	0.39%	2.07%	0.29%	0.03%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CWS and BRK-B in my portfolio?

CWS and BRK-B have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, CWS or BRK-B?

BRK-B has higher volatility (4.39%) compared to CWS (3.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CWS dropped -33.82% vs BRK-B's -53.86%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BRK-B currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.31 vs -0.08), 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.