LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

LTC-USD (Litecoin) and ETC-USD (Ethereum Classic) are both cryptocurrencies. Over the past 5 years, LTC-USD returned -23.53%/yr vs -34.78%/yr for ETC-USD. A 0.67 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Litecoin (LTC-USD) and Ethereum Classic (ETC-USD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, LTC-USD achieves a -39.14% return, which is significantly lower than ETC-USD's -33.28% return.

LTC-USD

• 1D: -0.44%
• 1M: -15.03%
• YTD: -39.14%
• 6M: -45.59%
• 1Y: -47.85%
• 3Y*: -20.86%
• 5Y*: -23.53%
• 10Y*: 25.51%

ETC-USD

• 1D: 0.53%
• 1M: -12.08%
• YTD: -33.28%
• 6M: -46.12%
• 1Y: -56.54%
• 3Y*: -25.11%
• 5Y*: -34.78%
• 10Y*: —

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

LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
LTC-USD Litecoin	-39.14%	-25.56%	41.56%	3.88%	-52.04%	17.47%	202.70%	38.01%	-86.89%	5,110.32%
ETC-USD Ethereum Classic	-33.28%	-54.13%	13.87%	39.62%	-53.90%	499.54%	27.01%	-10.00%	-82.30%	1,879.01%

Correlation

The correlation between LTC-USD and ETC-USD is 0.81, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.81
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.73
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.75
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 24, 2016	0.67

The correlation between LTC-USD and ETC-USD shifts across timeframes, from 0.67 (all time) to 0.81 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD — Risk / Return Rank

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

LTC-USD

LTC-USD Risk / Return Rank: 53
LTC-USD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 42
LTC-USD Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
LTC-USD Omega Ratio Rank: 44
LTC-USD Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
LTC-USD Martin Ratio Rank: 62

ETC-USD

ETC-USD Risk / Return Rank: 44
ETC-USD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
ETC-USD Sortino Ratio Rank: 37
ETC-USD Omega Ratio Rank: 38
ETC-USD Calmar Ratio Rank: 53
ETC-USD Martin Ratio Rank: 53

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.

LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Litecoin (LTC-USD) and Ethereum Classic (ETC-USD). 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.

	LTC-USD	ETC-USD	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	-0.75	-0.78	+0.03
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	-0.95	-1.12	+0.18
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.90	0.89	+0.01
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.74	-0.82	+0.07
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	-1.20	-1.22	+0.02
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current LTC-USD Sharpe Ratio is -0.75, which is comparable to the ETC-USD Sharpe Ratio of -0.78. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of LTC-USD and ETC-USD, 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

	LTC-USD	ETC-USD	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.75	-0.78	+0.03
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.30	-0.39	+0.09
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.25	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.19	0.15	+0.04

Drawdowns

LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum LTC-USD drawdown since its inception was -97.59%, roughly equal to the maximum ETC-USD drawdown of -94.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LTC-USD and ETC-USD.

Drawdown Indicators

	LTC-USD	ETC-USD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-97.59%	-94.61%	-2.98%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-64.33%	-69.22%	+4.89%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-65.94%	-80.18%	+14.24%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-84.45%	-89.88%	+5.43%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-93.64%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-87.97%	-94.58%	+6.61%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-75.63%	-73.65%	-1.98%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	45.62%	45.64%	-0.02%

Volatility

LTC-USD vs. ETC-USD - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Litecoin (LTC-USD) is 12.34%, while Ethereum Classic (ETC-USD) has a volatility of 14.25%. This indicates that LTC-USD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ETC-USD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	LTC-USD	ETC-USD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	12.34%	14.25%	-1.91%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	35.87%	43.31%	-7.44%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	53.08%	60.59%	-7.51%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	64.70%	73.49%	-8.79%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	85.62%	129.95%	-44.33%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both LTC-USD and ETC-USD in my portfolio?

LTC-USD and ETC-USD have a correlation of 0.81, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, LTC-USD or ETC-USD?

ETC-USD has higher volatility (14.25%) compared to LTC-USD (12.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LTC-USD dropped -97.59% vs ETC-USD's -94.61%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

LTC-USD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.75 vs -0.78), 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.