PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

PFMN.TO (PICTON Market Neutral Equity Alternative Fund) and ZWC.TO (BMO CA High Dividend Covered Call ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFMN.TO is a Long-Short fund actively managed by Picton Mahoney, while ZWC.TO is a Derivative Income fund actively managed by BMO. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, PFMN.TO returned 6.52%/yr vs 11.38%/yr for ZWC.TO. At a 0.17 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. PFMN.TO charges 4.27%/yr vs 0.91%/yr for ZWC.TO.

Performance

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in PICTON Market Neutral Equity Alternative Fund (PFMN.TO) and BMO CA High Dividend Covered Call ETF (ZWC.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PFMN.TO achieves a 2.80% return, which is significantly lower than ZWC.TO's 12.66% return.

PFMN.TO

• 1D: 0.06%
• 1M: 1.91%
• YTD: 2.80%
• 6M: 3.23%
• 1Y: 6.52%
• 3Y*: 7.90%
• 5Y*: 6.52%
• 10Y*: —

ZWC.TO

• 1D: 0.76%
• 1M: 3.01%
• YTD: 12.66%
• 6M: 13.79%
• 1Y: 29.42%
• 3Y*: 17.73%
• 5Y*: 11.38%
• 10Y*: —

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

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
PFMN.TO PICTON Market Neutral Equity Alternative Fund	2.80%	4.83%	15.09%	3.13%	5.43%	6.10%	16.70%	0.99%
ZWC.TO BMO CA High Dividend Covered Call ETF	12.66%	22.79%	12.00%	7.54%	-3.53%	25.39%	-6.92%	2.64%

Correlation

The correlation between PFMN.TO and ZWC.TO is 0.16, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.16
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.11
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.21
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 16, 2019	0.17

Return for Risk

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

PFMN.TO

PFMN.TO Risk / Return Rank: 47
PFMN.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
PFMN.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
PFMN.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 46
PFMN.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 44
PFMN.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 46

ZWC.TO

ZWC.TO Risk / Return Rank: 94
ZWC.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 96
ZWC.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 96
ZWC.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 95
ZWC.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 90
ZWC.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 94

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.

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PICTON Market Neutral Equity Alternative Fund (PFMN.TO) and BMO CA High Dividend Covered Call ETF (ZWC.TO). 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.

	PFMN.TO	ZWC.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.47	3.67	-2.21
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.19	5.16	-2.97
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.26	1.70	-0.43
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.95	4.92	-2.97
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.75	24.13	-17.38

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PFMN.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.47, which is lower than the ZWC.TO Sharpe Ratio of 3.67. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PFMN.TO and ZWC.TO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PFMN.TO drawdown since its inception was -13.04%, smaller than the maximum ZWC.TO drawdown of -40.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFMN.TO and ZWC.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	PFMN.TO	ZWC.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-13.04%	-40.57%	+27.53%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.49%	-5.99%	+2.50%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-3.85%	-9.09%	+5.24%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-4.24%	-16.43%	+12.19%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.18%	-4.68%	+3.50%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.01%	1.22%	-0.21%

Volatility

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for PICTON Market Neutral Equity Alternative Fund (PFMN.TO) is 1.62%, while BMO CA High Dividend Covered Call ETF (ZWC.TO) has a volatility of 2.75%. This indicates that PFMN.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ZWC.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PFMN.TO	ZWC.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.62%	2.75%	-1.13%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.59%	6.98%	-3.39%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.67%	8.03%	-3.36%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.76%	10.16%	-2.40%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	9.76%	14.92%	-5.16%

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

PFMN.TO has a 4.27% expense ratio, which is higher than ZWC.TO's 0.91% expense ratio.

Dividends

PFMN.TO vs. ZWC.TO - Dividend Comparison

PFMN.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.77%, less than ZWC.TO's 5.56% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PFMN.TO PICTON Market Neutral Equity Alternative Fund	0.77%	0.80%	0.00%	1.28%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.09%	0.00%	0.00%
ZWC.TO BMO CA High Dividend Covered Call ETF	5.56%	5.92%	6.73%	7.62%	7.01%	6.60%	8.15%	6.92%	7.11%	5.46%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PFMN.TO and ZWC.TO in my portfolio?

PFMN.TO and ZWC.TO have a correlation of 0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, PFMN.TO or ZWC.TO?

On fees, ZWC.TO is cheaper at 0.91% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, PFMN.TO or ZWC.TO?

ZWC.TO is cheaper with a 0.91% expense ratio, compared with 4.27% for PFMN.TO.

What is the main difference between PFMN.TO and ZWC.TO?

PFMN.TO is categorized as Long-Short, while ZWC.TO is Derivative Income. They also come from different issuers: Picton Mahoney and BMO. Their fees differ too: 4.27% for PFMN.TO and 0.91% for ZWC.TO.