PSCX vs. FAAR
PSCX (Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF) and FAAR (First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PSCX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Pacer, while FAAR is a Commodities fund actively managed by First Trust. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, PSCX returned 8.52%/yr vs 8.03%/yr for FAAR. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. PSCX charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.95%/yr for FAAR.
Performance
PSCX vs. FAAR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PSCX achieves a 5.11% return, which is significantly lower than FAAR's 20.28% return.
PSCX
- 1D
- 0.51%
- 1M
- 0.71%
- YTD
- 5.11%
- 6M
- 5.38%
- 1Y
- 15.46%
- 3Y*
- 12.35%
- 5Y*
- 8.52%
- 10Y*
- —
FAAR
- 1D
- 0.31%
- 1M
- -4.57%
- YTD
- 20.28%
- 6M
- 20.86%
- 1Y
- 26.92%
- 3Y*
- 10.85%
- 5Y*
- 8.03%
- 10Y*
- 4.74%
PSCX vs. FAAR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSCX Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF | 5.11% | 12.08% | 13.27% | 16.57% | -7.35% | 9.03% | 0.43% |
FAAR First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF | 20.28% | 8.07% | 5.97% | -5.63% | 10.15% | 12.34% | 3.09% |
Correlation
The correlation between PSCX and FAAR 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 | 0.00 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.00 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 23, 2020 | 0.01 |
The correlation between PSCX and FAAR shifts across timeframes, from -0.11 (1 year) to 0.01 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PSCX vs. FAAR — Risk / Return Rank
PSCX
FAAR
PSCX vs. FAAR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF (PSCX) and First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR). 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.
| PSCX | FAAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.73 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.19 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.56 | 1.34 | +0.22 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.66 | 4.72 | -1.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 18.42 | 14.40 | +4.02 |
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Drawdowns
PSCX vs. FAAR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PSCX drawdown since its inception was -10.20%, smaller than the maximum FAAR drawdown of -18.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSCX and FAAR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PSCX | FAAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -10.20% | -18.03% | +7.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.20% | -5.68% | +1.48% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -9.61% | -11.54% | +1.93% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -10.20% | -18.03% | +7.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -18.03% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.14% | -5.39% | +5.25% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.85% | -7.83% | +5.98% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.83% | 1.87% | -1.04% |
Volatility
PSCX vs. FAAR - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF (PSCX) is 1.74%, while First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR) has a volatility of 2.50%. This indicates that PSCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FAAR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PSCX | FAAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.74% | 2.50% | -0.76% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.50% | 9.71% | -5.21% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.62% | 13.36% | -7.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.11% | 12.95% | -5.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.97% | 11.53% | -4.56% |
PSCX vs. FAAR - Expense Ratio Comparison
PSCX has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is lower than FAAR's 0.95% expense ratio.
Dividends
PSCX vs. FAAR - Dividend Comparison
PSCX has not paid dividends to shareholders, while FAAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.57%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAAR First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF | 9.57% | 11.63% | 3.45% | 3.20% | 5.82% | 6.49% | 3.05% | 1.02% | 0.58% | 2.83% |
PSCX Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PSCX and FAAR 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.
FAAR has higher volatility (2.50%) compared to PSCX (1.74%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PSCX dropped -10.20% vs FAAR's -18.03%.
On 5-year performance, PSCX leads with 8.52% vs 8.03% for FAAR. On fees, PSCX is cheaper at 0.75% per year. On volatility, PSCX has been the lower-risk option at 1.74%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, PSCX has performed better with a 8.52% return vs 8.03%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
PSCX is cheaper with a 0.75% expense ratio, compared with 0.95% for FAAR.
FAAR has the higher dividend yield at 9.57%, compared with 0.00% for PSCX.
PSCX is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while FAAR is Commodities. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for PSCX and 0.95% for FAAR.
PSCX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.74 vs 2.01), 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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