FCG vs. PMBS
FCG (First Trust Natural Gas ETF) and PMBS (PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - FCG is a Energy Equities fund tracking the ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index, while PMBS is a Mortgage Backed Securities fund actively managed by PIMCO. FCG is passively managed, while PMBS is actively managed. Over the past year, FCG returned 32.99% vs 7.55% for PMBS. At a correlation of -0.17, they often move in opposite directions. FCG charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.71%/yr for PMBS.
Performance
FCG vs. PMBS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FCG achieves a 27.71% return, which is significantly higher than PMBS's 0.90% return.
FCG
- 1D
- 1.02%
- 1M
- -6.03%
- YTD
- 27.71%
- 6M
- 20.12%
- 1Y
- 32.99%
- 3Y*
- 12.75%
- 5Y*
- 16.52%
- 10Y*
- 4.65%
PMBS
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- 0.11%
- YTD
- 0.90%
- 6M
- 1.15%
- 1Y
- 7.55%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FCG vs. PMBS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF | 27.71% | -2.28% | 1.00% |
PMBS PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund | 0.90% | 8.92% | -2.75% |
Correlation
The correlation between FCG and PMBS is -0.28, 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 | -0.28 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 24, 2024 | -0.17 |
The correlation between FCG and PMBS shifts across timeframes, from -0.28 (1 year) to -0.17 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
FCG vs. PMBS — Risk / Return Rank
FCG
PMBS
FCG vs. PMBS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) and PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS). 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.
| FCG | PMBS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.55 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.97 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.33 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.54 | 2.56 | -0.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.56 | 8.70 | -3.14 |
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
| FCG | PMBS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 1.80 | -0.55 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.50 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.12 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.11 | 0.83 | -0.94 |
Drawdowns
FCG vs. PMBS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FCG drawdown since its inception was -97.20%, which is greater than PMBS's maximum drawdown of -4.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FCG and PMBS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FCG | PMBS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -97.20% | -4.35% | -92.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.07% | -2.97% | -10.10% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.44% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.33% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -85.04% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -74.25% | -1.55% | -72.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -65.38% | -1.14% | -64.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.95% | 0.87% | +5.08% |
Volatility
FCG vs. PMBS - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) has a higher volatility of 9.60% compared to PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS) at 1.52%. This indicates that FCG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PMBS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FCG | PMBS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.60% | 1.52% | +8.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.15% | 3.10% | +17.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.75% | 4.22% | +22.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 33.46% | 4.88% | +28.58% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.30% | 4.88% | +33.42% |
FCG vs. PMBS - Expense Ratio Comparison
FCG has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is lower than PMBS's 0.71% expense ratio.
Dividends
FCG vs. PMBS - Dividend Comparison
FCG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.15%, less than PMBS's 4.98% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF | 2.15% | 2.86% | 2.76% | 3.25% | 3.04% | 1.73% | 3.82% | 2.87% | 1.46% | 1.56% | 1.70% | 4.79% |
PMBS PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund | 4.98% | 4.73% | 1.59% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FCG and PMBS have a correlation of -0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FCG has higher volatility (9.60%) compared to PMBS (1.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FCG dropped -97.20% vs PMBS's -4.35%.
On 1-year performance, FCG leads with 32.99% vs 7.55% for PMBS. On fees, FCG is cheaper at 0.60% per year. On volatility, PMBS has been the lower-risk option at 1.52%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, FCG has performed better with a 32.99% return vs 7.55%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
FCG is cheaper with a 0.60% expense ratio, compared with 0.71% for PMBS.
PMBS has the higher dividend yield at 4.98%, compared with 2.15% for FCG.
FCG is categorized as Energy Equities, while PMBS is Mortgage Backed Securities. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and PIMCO. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for FCG and 0.71% for PMBS.
PMBS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.80 vs 1.24), 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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