ICOI vs. MARB

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ICOI (Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF) and MARB (First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ICOI is a Derivative Income fund actively managed by Bitwise, while MARB is a Long-Short fund actively managed by First Trust. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, ICOI returned -42.41% vs 6.18% for MARB. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions. ICOI charges 0.98%/yr vs 2.30%/yr for MARB.

Performance

ICOI vs. MARB - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF (ICOI) and First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF (MARB). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ICOI achieves a -22.33% return, which is significantly lower than MARB's 1.26% return.

ICOI

• 1D: -5.88%
• 1M: -10.04%
• YTD: -22.33%
• 6M: -32.60%
• 1Y: -42.41%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

MARB

• 1D: 0.05%
• 1M: 0.22%
• YTD: 1.26%
• 6M: 1.42%
• 1Y: 6.18%
• 3Y*: 4.29%
• 5Y*: 2.64%
• 10Y*: —

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

ICOI vs. MARB - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
ICOI Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	-22.33%	-7.98%
MARB First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF	1.26%	6.75%

Correlation

The correlation between ICOI and MARB is -0.08, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.08
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 4, 2025	-0.02

Return for Risk

ICOI vs. MARB — Risk / Return Rank

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

ICOI

ICOI Risk / Return Rank: 3
ICOI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2
ICOI Sortino Ratio Rank: 3
ICOI Omega Ratio Rank: 2
ICOI Calmar Ratio Rank: 3
ICOI Martin Ratio Rank: 3

MARB

MARB Risk / Return Rank: 52
MARB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 32
MARB Sortino Ratio Rank: 34
MARB Omega Ratio Rank: 51
MARB Calmar Ratio Rank: 52
MARB Martin Ratio Rank: 90

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.

ICOI vs. MARB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF (ICOI) and First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF (MARB). 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.

	ICOI	MARB	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.86	1.17	-2.03
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.15	1.80	-2.95
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.86	1.32	-0.46
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.73	2.56	-3.29
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.16	20.98	-22.15
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ICOI vs. MARB - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ICOI Sharpe Ratio is -0.86, which is lower than the MARB Sharpe Ratio of 1.17. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ICOI and MARB, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ICOI	MARB	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.86	1.17	-2.03
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.62	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	-0.50	0.36	-0.86

Drawdowns

ICOI vs. MARB - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ICOI drawdown since its inception was -58.10%, which is greater than MARB's maximum drawdown of -11.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ICOI and MARB.

Drawdown Indicators

	ICOI	MARB	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-58.10%	-11.99%	-46.11%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-58.10%	-2.43%	-55.67%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-3.67%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-3.67%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-55.30%	-0.00%	-55.30%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-27.43%	-1.40%	-26.03%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	36.48%	0.30%	+36.18%

Volatility

ICOI vs. MARB - Volatility Comparison

Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF (ICOI) has a higher volatility of 13.92% compared to First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF (MARB) at 0.47%. This indicates that ICOI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MARB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ICOI	MARB	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	13.92%	0.47%	+13.45%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	34.93%	2.18%	+32.75%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	49.40%	5.31%	+44.09%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	50.41%	4.27%	+46.14%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	50.41%	5.60%	+44.81%

ICOI vs. MARB - Expense Ratio Comparison

ICOI has a 0.98% expense ratio, which is lower than MARB's 2.30% expense ratio.

Dividends

ICOI vs. MARB - Dividend Comparison

ICOI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 338.05%, more than MARB's 2.98% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
ICOI Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	338.05%	247.40%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
MARB First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF	2.98%	3.01%	2.11%	2.20%	0.99%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ICOI and MARB in my portfolio?

ICOI and MARB have a correlation of -0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ICOI or MARB?

ICOI has higher volatility (13.92%) compared to MARB (0.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ICOI dropped -58.10% vs MARB's -11.99%.

Which ETF is better, ICOI or MARB?

On 1-year performance, MARB leads with 6.18% vs -42.41% for ICOI. On fees, ICOI is cheaper at 0.98% per year. On volatility, MARB has been the lower-risk option at 0.47%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, ICOI or MARB?

Over the 1-year period, MARB has performed better with a 6.18% return vs -42.41%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, ICOI or MARB?

ICOI is cheaper with a 0.98% expense ratio, compared with 2.30% for MARB.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, ICOI or MARB?

ICOI has the higher dividend yield at 338.05%, compared with 2.98% for MARB.

What is the main difference between ICOI and MARB?

ICOI is categorized as Derivative Income, while MARB is Long-Short. They also come from different issuers: Bitwise and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.98% for ICOI and 2.30% for MARB.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

MARB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.17 vs -0.86), 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.