LDEM vs. YCS
LDEM (iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - LDEM is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Index, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, LDEM returned 1.89%/yr vs 23.54%/yr for YCS. At a correlation of -0.16, they often move in opposite directions. LDEM charges 0.16%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.
Performance
LDEM vs. YCS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with LDEM having a 6.92% return and YCS slightly higher at 7.17%.
LDEM
- 1D
- -1.61%
- 1M
- 0.72%
- YTD
- 6.92%
- 6M
- 7.76%
- 1Y
- 25.33%
- 3Y*
- 15.06%
- 5Y*
- 1.89%
- 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%
LDEM vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LDEM iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | 6.92% | 32.49% | 5.87% | 6.49% | -22.46% | -2.03% | 15.59% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 7.17% | 9.04% | 35.41% | 28.70% | 29.09% | 22.38% | -13.77% |
Correlation
The correlation between LDEM and YCS is -0.29, 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 | -0.29 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.20 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.17 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 13, 2020 | -0.16 |
The correlation between LDEM and YCS shifts across timeframes, from -0.29 (1 year) to -0.16 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
LDEM vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank
LDEM
YCS
LDEM vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) 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.
| LDEM | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.44 | 1.92 | -0.48 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.03 | 2.44 | -0.41 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.35 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.93 | 3.97 | -2.04 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.33 | 12.40 | -6.06 |
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
| LDEM | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.44 | 1.92 | -0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.10 | 1.12 | -1.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.65 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.27 | 0.33 | -0.06 |
Drawdowns
LDEM vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LDEM drawdown since its inception was -40.82%, smaller than the maximum YCS drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LDEM and YCS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LDEM | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.82% | -49.56% | +8.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.21% | -8.30% | -4.91% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.12% | -23.05% | +7.93% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.17% | -27.32% | -11.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -27.32% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.92% | 0.00% | -3.92% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.36% | -19.93% | +2.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.01% | 2.66% | +1.35% |
Volatility
LDEM vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) has a higher volatility of 6.08% compared to ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) at 2.75%. This indicates that LDEM'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
| LDEM | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.08% | 2.75% | +3.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.90% | 12.32% | +1.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.68% | 17.27% | +0.41% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.09% | 21.10% | -2.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.73% | 19.01% | +1.72% |
LDEM vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison
LDEM has a 0.16% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
LDEM vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison
LDEM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.04%, while YCS has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LDEM iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | 3.04% | 3.26% | 2.64% | 3.20% | 4.93% | 1.82% | 1.89% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
LDEM and YCS have a correlation of -0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
LDEM has higher volatility (6.08%) compared to YCS (2.75%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LDEM dropped -40.82% vs YCS's -49.56%.
On 5-year performance, YCS leads with 23.54% vs 1.89% for LDEM. On fees, LDEM is cheaper at 0.16% 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 1.89%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
LDEM is cheaper with a 0.16% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for YCS.
LDEM has the higher dividend yield at 3.04%, compared with 0.00% for YCS.
LDEM is categorized as Emerging Markets Equities, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. LDEM tracks MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Index, while YCS tracks USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). They also come from different issuers: iShares and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.16% for LDEM and 1.00% for YCS.
YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs 1.44), 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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