PFFL vs. COMT
PFFL (ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN) and COMT (iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFFL is a Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds fund tracking the Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while COMT is a Commodities fund tracking the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll (USD) Total Return Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PFFL returned -6.81%/yr vs 11.75%/yr for COMT. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. PFFL charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.48%/yr for COMT.
Performance
PFFL vs. COMT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFFL achieves a -3.27% return, which is significantly lower than COMT's 30.19% return.
PFFL
- 1D
- -1.16%
- 1M
- -3.46%
- 6M
- -7.41%
- YTD
- -3.27%
- 1Y
- -0.36%
- 3Y*
- 3.48%
- 5Y*
- -6.81%
- 10Y*
- —
COMT
- 1D
- -0.49%
- 1M
- 2.53%
- 6M
- 26.18%
- YTD
- 30.19%
- 1Y
- 33.20%
- 3Y*
- 12.71%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 8.33%
PFFL vs. COMT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | -3.27% | 2.18% | 4.77% | 8.65% | -39.15% | 7.52% | -15.47% | 30.21% | -10.77% |
COMT iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF | 30.19% | 6.07% | 5.96% | -6.56% | 19.45% | 36.88% | -18.66% | 10.81% | -13.65% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFFL and COMT is -0.11, 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 | -0.11 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2018 | 0.13 |
The correlation between PFFL and COMT shifts across timeframes, from -0.11 (1 year) to 0.13 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PFFL vs. COMT — Risk / Return Rank
PFFL
COMT
PFFL vs. COMT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL) and iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF (COMT). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| PFFL | COMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.57 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.27 | -0.26 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.03 | 1.90 | -1.93 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.06 | 6.35 | -6.41 |
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Drawdowns
PFFL vs. COMT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFFL drawdown since its inception was -80.68%, which is greater than COMT's maximum drawdown of -51.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFFL and COMT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFFL | COMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -80.68% | -51.89% | -28.79% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.92% | -17.57% | +5.65% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.75% | -17.57% | -6.18% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -48.51% | -29.00% | -19.51% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -39.22% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -40.41% | -11.28% | -29.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -28.68% | -23.95% | -4.73% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.63% | 5.24% | +0.39% |
Volatility
PFFL vs. COMT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL) is 4.10%, while iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF (COMT) has a volatility of 5.91%. This indicates that PFFL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than COMT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFFL | COMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.10% | 5.91% | -1.81% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.00% | 19.67% | -8.67% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.37% | 21.54% | -5.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.70% | 21.20% | +2.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 54.95% | 18.85% | +36.10% |
PFFL vs. COMT - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFFL has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than COMT's 0.48% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFFL vs. COMT - Dividend Comparison
PFFL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.72%, more than COMT's 5.95% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COMT iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF | 5.95% | 7.74% | 4.90% | 5.19% | 29.79% | 17.79% | 0.36% | 2.61% | 11.65% | 5.16% | 0.52% | 1.44% |
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | 12.72% | 13.27% | 13.76% | 13.71% | 13.90% | 8.82% | 9.75% | 11.21% | 2.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFFL and COMT have a correlation of -0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
COMT has higher volatility (5.91%) compared to PFFL (4.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFFL dropped -80.68% vs COMT's -51.89%.
On 5-year performance, COMT leads with 11.75% vs -6.81% for PFFL. On fees, COMT is cheaper at 0.48% per year. On volatility, PFFL has been the lower-risk option at 4.10%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, COMT has performed better with a 11.75% return vs -6.81%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
COMT is cheaper with a 0.48% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for PFFL.
PFFL has the higher dividend yield at 12.72%, compared with 5.95% for COMT.
PFFL is categorized as Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, while COMT is Commodities. PFFL tracks Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while COMT tracks S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll (USD) Total Return Index. They also come from different issuers: UBS and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for PFFL and 0.48% for COMT.
COMT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.55 vs -0.02), 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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