JPAN vs. YCS

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

JPAN (Matthews Japan Active ETF) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - JPAN is a Japan Equities fund actively managed by Matthews, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). JPAN is actively managed, while YCS is passively managed. Over the past year, JPAN returned 27.88% vs 32.82% for YCS. At a correlation of -0.25, they often move in opposite directions. JPAN charges 0.79%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.

Performance

JPAN vs. YCS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Matthews Japan Active ETF (JPAN) and ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, JPAN achieves a 17.03% return, which is significantly higher than YCS's 7.17% return.

JPAN

• 1D: 0.60%
• 1M: 6.19%
• YTD: 17.03%
• 6M: 18.72%
• 1Y: 27.88%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 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%

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

JPAN vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
JPAN Matthews Japan Active ETF	17.03%	22.96%	18.16%	5.77%
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen	7.17%	9.04%	35.41%	-6.64%

Correlation

The correlation between JPAN and YCS is -0.37, 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	-0.37
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 25, 2023	-0.25

The correlation between JPAN and YCS shifts across timeframes, from -0.37 (1 year) to -0.25 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

JPAN vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank

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

JPAN

JPAN Risk / Return Rank: 41
JPAN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 40
JPAN Sortino Ratio Rank: 41
JPAN Omega Ratio Rank: 40
JPAN Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
JPAN Martin Ratio Rank: 44

YCS

YCS Risk / Return Rank: 61
YCS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
YCS Sortino Ratio Rank: 49
YCS Omega Ratio Rank: 56
YCS Calmar Ratio Rank: 78
YCS Martin Ratio Rank: 67

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.

JPAN vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Matthews Japan Active ETF (JPAN) 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.

	JPAN	YCS	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.43	1.92	-0.49
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.13	2.44	-0.31
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.27	1.35	-0.09
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.06	3.97	-1.91
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.32	12.40	-5.07
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

JPAN vs. YCS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current JPAN Sharpe Ratio is 1.43, which is comparable to the YCS Sharpe Ratio of 1.92. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of JPAN and YCS, 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

	JPAN	YCS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.43	1.92	-0.49
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	1.12	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.65	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.27	0.33	+0.94

Drawdowns

JPAN vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum JPAN drawdown since its inception was -15.24%, smaller than the maximum YCS drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for JPAN and YCS.

Drawdown Indicators

	JPAN	YCS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-15.24%	-49.56%	+34.32%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.59%	-8.30%	-6.29%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-23.05%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-27.32%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-27.32%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.31%	0.00%	-0.31%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.09%	-19.93%	+16.84%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.11%	2.66%	+1.45%

Volatility

JPAN vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison

Matthews Japan Active ETF (JPAN) has a higher volatility of 4.63% compared to ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) at 2.75%. This indicates that JPAN'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.

Volatility by Period

	JPAN	YCS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.63%	2.75%	+1.88%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	15.69%	12.32%	+3.37%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.69%	17.27%	+2.42%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.27%	21.10%	-1.83%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.27%	19.01%	+0.26%

JPAN vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison

JPAN has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.

Dividends

JPAN vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison

JPAN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.36%, while YCS has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
JPAN Matthews Japan Active ETF	4.36%	5.10%	1.53%	0.51%
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both JPAN and YCS in my portfolio?

JPAN and YCS have a correlation of -0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, JPAN or YCS?

JPAN has higher volatility (4.63%) compared to YCS (2.75%). In terms of maximum drawdown, JPAN dropped -15.24% vs YCS's -49.56%.

Which ETF is better, JPAN or YCS?

On 1-year performance, YCS leads with 32.82% vs 27.88% for JPAN. On fees, JPAN is cheaper at 0.79% 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.

Which ETF has performed better, JPAN or YCS?

Over the 1-year period, YCS has performed better with a 32.82% return vs 27.88%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, JPAN or YCS?

JPAN is cheaper with a 0.79% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for YCS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, JPAN or YCS?

JPAN has the higher dividend yield at 4.36%, compared with 0.00% for YCS.

What is the main difference between JPAN and YCS?

JPAN is categorized as Japan Equities, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. They also come from different issuers: Matthews and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for JPAN and 1.00% for YCS.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs 1.43), 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.