PFFL vs. ISCMF
PFFL (ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN) and ISCMF (iShares Diversified Commodity Swap UCITS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFFL is a Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds fund tracking the Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while ISCMF is a Commodities fund tracking the Bloomberg Commodity Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, PFFL returned 4.24%/yr vs 16.78%/yr for ISCMF. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. PFFL charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for ISCMF.
Performance
PFFL vs. ISCMF - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFFL achieves a -1.72% return, which is significantly lower than ISCMF's 22.87% return.
PFFL
- 1D
- -1.92%
- 1M
- -1.21%
- YTD
- -1.72%
- 6M
- -2.34%
- 1Y
- 5.32%
- 3Y*
- 4.24%
- 5Y*
- -6.56%
- 10Y*
- —
ISCMF
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -4.99%
- YTD
- 22.87%
- 6M
- 22.87%
- 1Y
- 31.30%
- 3Y*
- 16.78%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
PFFL vs. ISCMF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | -1.72% | 2.18% | 4.77% | 8.65% | -24.74% |
ISCMF iShares Diversified Commodity Swap UCITS ETF | 22.87% | 19.65% | 3.13% | -9.58% | -5.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFFL and ISCMF is -0.04, 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 | -0.04 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.00 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 17, 2022 | -0.01 |
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. ISCMF — Risk / Return Rank
PFFL
ISCMF
PFFL vs. ISCMF - 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 Diversified Commodity Swap UCITS ETF (ISCMF). 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 | ISCMF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.07 | 2.31 | -1.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.45 | 5.53 | -5.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.04 | 11.95 | -10.90 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
PFFL vs. ISCMF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFFL drawdown since its inception was -80.68%, which is greater than ISCMF's maximum drawdown of -25.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFFL and ISCMF.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| PFFL | ISCMF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -80.68% | -25.42% | -55.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.92% | -5.69% | -6.23% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.75% | -7.62% | -16.13% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -48.51% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -39.45% | -5.26% | -34.19% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -28.58% | -13.36% | -15.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.11% | 2.63% | +2.48% |
Volatility
PFFL vs. ISCMF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL) is 4.11%, while iShares Diversified Commodity Swap UCITS ETF (ISCMF) has a volatility of 5.11%. This indicates that PFFL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ISCMF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| PFFL | ISCMF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.11% | 5.11% | -1.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.67% | 15.45% | -4.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.16% | 17.87% | -0.71% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.66% | 14.29% | +9.37% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 55.18% | 14.29% | +40.89% |
PFFL vs. ISCMF - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFFL has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than ISCMF's 0.19% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFFL vs. ISCMF - Dividend Comparison
PFFL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 13.11%, while ISCMF has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ISCMF iShares Diversified Commodity Swap UCITS ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | 13.11% | 13.27% | 13.76% | 13.71% | 13.90% | 8.82% | 9.75% | 11.21% | 2.02% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFFL and ISCMF have a correlation of -0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ISCMF has higher volatility (5.11%) compared to PFFL (4.11%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFFL dropped -80.68% vs ISCMF's -25.42%.
On 3-year performance, ISCMF leads with 16.78% vs 4.24% for PFFL. On fees, ISCMF is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, PFFL has been the lower-risk option at 4.11%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, ISCMF has performed better with a 16.78% return vs 4.24%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ISCMF is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for PFFL.
PFFL has the higher dividend yield at 13.11%, compared with 0.00% for ISCMF.
PFFL is categorized as Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, while ISCMF is Commodities. PFFL tracks Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while ISCMF tracks Bloomberg Commodity Index. They also come from different issuers: UBS and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for PFFL and 0.19% for ISCMF.
ISCMF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.76 vs 0.31), 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 ISCMF
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