PFFL vs. SPY
PFFL (ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFFL is a Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds fund tracking the Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PFFL returned -6.57%/yr vs 13.05%/yr for SPY. A 0.52 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PFFL charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.
Performance
PFFL vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFFL achieves a -1.90% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 8.15% return.
PFFL
- 1D
- -0.19%
- 1M
- -1.40%
- YTD
- -1.90%
- 6M
- -2.44%
- 1Y
- 4.83%
- 3Y*
- 4.18%
- 5Y*
- -6.57%
- 10Y*
- —
SPY
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- -1.36%
- YTD
- 8.15%
- 6M
- 7.20%
- 1Y
- 23.59%
- 3Y*
- 20.68%
- 5Y*
- 13.05%
- 10Y*
- 15.53%
PFFL vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | -1.90% | 2.18% | 4.77% | 8.65% | -39.15% | 7.52% | -15.47% | 30.21% | -10.77% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 8.15% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -13.54% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFFL and SPY is 0.59, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2018 | 0.52 |
The correlation between PFFL and SPY shifts across timeframes, from 0.44 (3 years) to 0.59 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PFFL vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
PFFL
SPY
PFFL vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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 | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.07 | 1.34 | -0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.41 | 2.67 | -2.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.94 | 11.92 | -10.98 |
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Drawdowns
PFFL vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFFL drawdown since its inception was -80.68%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFFL and SPY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFFL | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -80.68% | -55.19% | -25.49% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.92% | -8.88% | -3.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.75% | -18.76% | -4.99% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -48.51% | -24.50% | -24.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.72% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -39.57% | -3.17% | -36.40% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -28.59% | -9.04% | -19.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.14% | 1.98% | +3.16% |
Volatility
PFFL vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL) is 4.10%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 4.87%. This indicates that PFFL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFFL | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.10% | 4.87% | -0.77% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.67% | 9.85% | +0.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.12% | 12.50% | +4.62% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.66% | 17.15% | +6.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 55.16% | 17.95% | +37.21% |
PFFL vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFFL has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFFL vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
PFFL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 13.14%, more than SPY's 1.03% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFFL ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN | 13.14% | 13.27% | 13.76% | 13.71% | 13.90% | 8.82% | 9.75% | 11.21% | 2.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.03% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFFL and SPY have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SPY has higher volatility (4.87%) compared to PFFL (4.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFFL dropped -80.68% vs SPY's -55.19%.
On 5-year performance, SPY leads with 13.05% vs -6.57% for PFFL. On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% 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, SPY has performed better with a 13.05% return vs -6.57%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for PFFL.
PFFL has the higher dividend yield at 13.14%, compared with 1.03% for SPY.
PFFL is categorized as Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, while SPY is S&P 500. PFFL tracks Solactive Preferred Stock ETF Index, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: UBS and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for PFFL and 0.09% for SPY.
SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.90 vs 0.28), 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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