ESPO vs. YCS
ESPO (VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - ESPO is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the MVIS Global Video Gaming and eSports Index, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, ESPO returned 6.23%/yr vs 23.54%/yr for YCS. At a correlation of -0.06, they often move in opposite directions. ESPO charges 0.55%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.
Performance
ESPO vs. YCS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ESPO achieves a -13.31% return, which is significantly lower than YCS's 7.17% return.
ESPO
- 1D
- -2.20%
- 1M
- -1.23%
- YTD
- -13.31%
- 6M
- -16.99%
- 1Y
- -11.55%
- 3Y*
- 19.46%
- 5Y*
- 6.23%
- 10Y*
- —
YCS
- 1D
- 0.17%
- 1M
- 4.42%
- YTD
- 7.17%
- 6M
- 10.05%
- 1Y
- 32.82%
- 3Y*
- 19.84%
- 5Y*
- 23.54%
- 10Y*
- 12.34%
ESPO vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESPO VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF | -13.31% | 25.79% | 47.61% | 33.64% | -34.71% | -2.13% | 83.93% | 42.36% | -12.57% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 7.17% | 9.04% | 35.41% | 28.70% | 29.09% | 22.38% | -11.18% | 3.37% | -3.85% |
Correlation
The correlation between ESPO and YCS is -0.26, 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 | -0.26 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.13 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 18, 2018 | -0.06 |
The correlation between ESPO and YCS shifts across timeframes, from -0.26 (1 year) to -0.06 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ESPO vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank
ESPO
YCS
ESPO vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) 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.
| ESPO | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.53 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.19 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.91 | 1.35 | -0.44 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.42 | 3.97 | -4.39 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.76 | 12.40 | -13.15 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ESPO | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.62 | 1.92 | -2.53 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.25 | 1.12 | -0.87 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.65 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.63 | 0.33 | +0.30 |
Drawdowns
ESPO vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ESPO drawdown since its inception was -50.99%, roughly equal to the maximum YCS drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESPO and YCS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ESPO | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.99% | -49.56% | -1.43% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -27.81% | -8.30% | -19.51% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.81% | -23.05% | -4.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -48.33% | -27.32% | -21.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -27.32% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -25.66% | 0.00% | -25.66% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.03% | -19.93% | +4.90% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.30% | 2.66% | +12.64% |
Volatility
ESPO vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) has a higher volatility of 5.00% compared to ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) at 2.75%. This indicates that ESPO'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
| ESPO | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.00% | 2.75% | +2.25% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.58% | 12.32% | +2.26% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.85% | 17.27% | +1.58% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.12% | 21.10% | +4.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.75% | 19.01% | +6.74% |
ESPO vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison
ESPO has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
ESPO vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison
ESPO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.44%, while YCS has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESPO VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF | 1.44% | 1.24% | 0.44% | 0.96% | 0.91% | 3.36% | 0.12% | 0.22% | 0.04% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ESPO and YCS have a correlation of -0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ESPO has higher volatility (5.00%) compared to YCS (2.75%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ESPO dropped -50.99% vs YCS's -49.56%.
On 5-year performance, YCS leads with 23.54% vs 6.23% for ESPO. On fees, ESPO is cheaper at 0.55% per year. On volatility, YCS has been the lower-risk option at 2.75%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, YCS has performed better with a 23.54% return vs 6.23%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ESPO is cheaper with a 0.55% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for YCS.
ESPO has the higher dividend yield at 1.44%, compared with 0.00% for YCS.
ESPO is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. ESPO tracks MVIS Global Video Gaming and eSports Index, while YCS tracks USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). They also come from different issuers: VanEck and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.55% for ESPO and 1.00% for YCS.
YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs -0.62), 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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