PFFL vs. EINC
PFFL (ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN) and EINC (VanEck Energy Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFFL is a Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds fund tracking the Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while EINC is a Energy Equities fund tracking the MVIS North America Energy Infrastructure Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PFFL returned -7.00%/yr vs 22.43%/yr for EINC. At a 0.31 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. PFFL charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for EINC.
Performance
PFFL vs. EINC - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFFL achieves a -3.57% return, which is significantly lower than EINC's 28.74% return.
PFFL
- 1D
- -0.48%
- 1M
- -2.65%
- 6M
- -6.30%
- YTD
- -3.57%
- 1Y
- -2.06%
- 3Y*
- 2.84%
- 5Y*
- -7.00%
- 10Y*
- —
EINC
- 1D
- 1.55%
- 1M
- 1.87%
- 6M
- 30.32%
- YTD
- 28.74%
- 1Y
- 32.69%
- 3Y*
- 28.67%
- 5Y*
- 22.43%
- 10Y*
- 11.77%
PFFL vs. EINC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | -3.57% | 2.18% | 4.77% | 8.65% | -39.15% | 7.52% | -15.47% | 30.21% | -10.77% |
EINC VanEck Energy Income ETF | 28.74% | 7.11% | 42.79% | 15.55% | 19.18% | 38.05% | -19.89% | 16.98% | -19.84% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFFL and EINC is -0.08, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2018 | 0.31 |
The correlation between PFFL and EINC shifts across timeframes, from -0.08 (1 year) to 0.31 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
PFFL vs. EINC — Risk / Return Rank
PFFL
EINC
PFFL vs. EINC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL) and VanEck Energy Income ETF (EINC). 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 | EINC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.99 | 1.37 | -0.38 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.17 | 4.16 | -4.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.37 | 10.24 | -10.61 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
PFFL vs. EINC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFFL drawdown since its inception was -80.68%, smaller than the maximum EINC drawdown of -87.55%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFFL and EINC.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| PFFL | EINC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -80.68% | -87.55% | +6.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.92% | -7.89% | -4.03% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.75% | -16.01% | -7.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -48.51% | -19.87% | -28.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -68.85% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -40.60% | -2.40% | -38.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -28.67% | -44.01% | +15.34% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.55% | 3.20% | +2.35% |
Volatility
PFFL vs. EINC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL) is 4.25%, while VanEck Energy Income ETF (EINC) has a volatility of 6.06%. This indicates that PFFL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EINC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| PFFL | EINC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.25% | 6.06% | -1.81% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.91% | 12.30% | -1.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.91% | 15.42% | +1.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.69% | 19.58% | +4.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 54.99% | 25.34% | +29.65% |
PFFL vs. EINC - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFFL has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than EINC's 0.45% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFFL vs. EINC - Dividend Comparison
PFFL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 13.37%, more than EINC's 3.44% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EINC VanEck Energy Income ETF | 3.44% | 4.51% | 3.33% | 3.77% | 2.89% | 6.03% | 6.69% | 9.66% | 11.31% | 8.53% | 9.71% | 28.53% |
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | 13.37% | 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 EINC have a correlation of -0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
EINC has higher volatility (6.06%) compared to PFFL (4.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFFL dropped -80.68% vs EINC's -87.55%.
On 5-year performance, EINC leads with 22.43% vs -7.00% for PFFL. On fees, EINC is cheaper at 0.45% per year. On volatility, PFFL has been the lower-risk option at 4.25%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, EINC has performed better with a 22.43% return vs -7.00%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
EINC is cheaper with a 0.45% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for PFFL.
PFFL has the higher dividend yield at 13.37%, compared with 3.44% for EINC.
PFFL is categorized as Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, while EINC is Energy Equities. PFFL tracks Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while EINC tracks MVIS North America Energy Infrastructure Index. They also come from different issuers: UBS and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for PFFL and 0.45% for EINC.
EINC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.13 vs -0.12), 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.
Find the right allocation for PFFL and EINC
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer