NATO vs. YCS

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

NATO (Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - NATO is a Aerospace & Defense fund tracking the Solactive Transatlantic Aerospace and Defense Index, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past year, NATO returned 13.50% vs 32.82% for YCS. At a correlation of -0.08, they often move in opposite directions. NATO charges 0.35%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.

Performance

NATO vs. YCS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) 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, NATO achieves a 1.39% return, which is significantly lower than YCS's 7.17% return.

NATO

• 1D: -1.87%
• 1M: 2.05%
• YTD: 1.39%
• 6M: 7.82%
• 1Y: 13.50%
• 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)

NATO vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
NATO Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF	1.39%	50.95%	0.35%
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen	7.17%	9.04%	11.20%

Correlation

The correlation between NATO and YCS is -0.17, 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	-0.17
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 14, 2024	-0.08

Return for Risk

NATO vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank

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

NATO

NATO Risk / Return Rank: 19
NATO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 19
NATO Sortino Ratio Rank: 20
NATO Omega Ratio Rank: 19
NATO Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
NATO Martin Ratio Rank: 19

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.

NATO vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) 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.

	NATO	YCS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.65	1.92	-1.26
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.07	2.44	-1.37
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.13	1.35	-0.22
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.85	3.97	-3.12
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.19	12.40	-10.20
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

NATO vs. YCS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current NATO Sharpe Ratio is 0.65, which is lower than the YCS Sharpe Ratio of 1.92. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of NATO 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

	NATO	YCS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.65	1.92	-1.26
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	1.34	0.33	+1.01

Drawdowns

NATO vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum NATO drawdown since its inception was -15.99%, smaller than the maximum YCS drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NATO and YCS.

Drawdown Indicators

	NATO	YCS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-15.99%	-49.56%	+33.57%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.99%	-8.30%	-7.69%
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	-12.30%	0.00%	-12.30%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.71%	-19.93%	+16.22%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.17%	2.66%	+3.51%

Volatility

NATO vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison

Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) has a higher volatility of 7.97% compared to ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) at 2.75%. This indicates that NATO'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

	NATO	YCS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.97%	2.75%	+5.22%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.65%	12.32%	+5.33%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.71%	17.27%	+3.44%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	22.61%	21.10%	+1.51%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.61%	19.01%	+3.60%

NATO vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison

NATO has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.

Dividends

NATO vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison

NATO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.44%, while YCS has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
NATO Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF	0.44%	0.45%	0.08%
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both NATO and YCS in my portfolio?

NATO and YCS have a correlation of -0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, NATO or YCS?

NATO has higher volatility (7.97%) compared to YCS (2.75%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NATO dropped -15.99% vs YCS's -49.56%.

Which ETF is better, NATO or YCS?

On 1-year performance, YCS leads with 32.82% vs 13.50% for NATO. On fees, NATO is cheaper at 0.35% 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, NATO or YCS?

Over the 1-year period, YCS has performed better with a 32.82% return vs 13.50%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, NATO or YCS?

NATO is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for YCS.

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

NATO has the higher dividend yield at 0.44%, compared with 0.00% for YCS.

What is the main difference between NATO and YCS?

NATO is categorized as Aerospace & Defense, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. NATO tracks Solactive Transatlantic Aerospace and Defense Index, while YCS tracks USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). They also come from different issuers: Themes and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for NATO and 1.00% for YCS.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs 0.65), 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.