PBQQ vs. SMAX

Last updated Apr 18, 2026

PBQQ (PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF) and SMAX (iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF) are both Defined Outcome funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, PBQQ returned 28.19% vs 11.56% for SMAX. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.50% expense ratio.

Performance

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF (PBQQ) and iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF (SMAX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PBQQ achieves a 4.74% return, which is significantly higher than SMAX's 1.61% return.

PBQQ

• 1D: 0.57%
• 1M: 5.21%
• YTD: 4.74%
• 6M: 7.46%
• 1Y: 28.19%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

SMAX

• 1D: 0.26%
• 1M: 1.86%
• YTD: 1.61%
• 6M: 2.96%
• 1Y: 11.56%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
PBQQ PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF	4.74%	15.44%
SMAX iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF	1.61%	7.88%

Correlation

The correlation between PBQQ and SMAX is 0.85, 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	0.85
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 3, 2025	0.86

The correlation between PBQQ and SMAX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.85 to 0.86 — a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

PBQQ vs. SMAX — Risk / Return Rank

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

PBQQ

PBQQ Risk / Return Rank: 92
PBQQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 91
PBQQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 95
PBQQ Omega Ratio Rank: 94
PBQQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 88
PBQQ Martin Ratio Rank: 93

SMAX

SMAX Risk / Return Rank: 94
SMAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
SMAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
SMAX Omega Ratio Rank: 96
SMAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 90
SMAX Martin Ratio Rank: 95

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.

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF (PBQQ) and iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF (SMAX). 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.

	PBQQ	SMAX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	3.46	3.91	-0.44
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	5.32	6.25	-0.93
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.73	1.89	-0.16
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	5.53	5.83	-0.30
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	26.21	30.94	-4.73
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PBQQ Sharpe Ratio is 3.46, which is comparable to the SMAX Sharpe Ratio of 3.91. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PBQQ and SMAX, 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

	PBQQ	SMAX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.46	3.91	-0.44
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.30	1.84	-0.54

Drawdowns

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PBQQ drawdown since its inception was -12.92%, which is greater than SMAX's maximum drawdown of -3.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PBQQ and SMAX.

Drawdown Indicators

	PBQQ	SMAX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-12.92%	-3.90%	-9.02%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.71%	-1.91%	-2.80%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.37%	-0.43%	-0.94%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.99%	0.36%	+0.63%

Volatility

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Volatility Comparison

PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF (PBQQ) has a higher volatility of 3.56% compared to iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF (SMAX) at 1.36%. This indicates that PBQQ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SMAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PBQQ	SMAX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.56%	1.36%	+2.20%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.87%	2.21%	+3.66%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	8.22%	2.98%	+5.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.35%	3.79%	+8.56%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	12.35%	3.79%	+8.56%

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both PBQQ and SMAX have an expense ratio of 0.50%.

Dividends

PBQQ vs. SMAX - Dividend Comparison

PBQQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.01%, less than SMAX's 0.96% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024
PBQQ PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF	0.01%	0.01%	0.00%
SMAX iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF	0.96%	0.98%	0.27%