PSEC vs. UNG

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

PSEC (Prospect Capital Corporation) is a stock, while UNG (United States Natural Gas Fund LP) is Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Natural Gas. Over the past 10 years, PSEC returned 0.41%/yr vs -21.38%/yr for UNG. At a 0.05 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

PSEC vs. UNG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) and United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PSEC achieves a -3.27% return, which is significantly higher than UNG's -7.42% return. Over the past 10 years, PSEC has outperformed UNG with an annualized return of 0.41%, while UNG has yielded a comparatively lower -21.38% annualized return.

PSEC

• 1D: 1.32%
• 1M: 7.59%
• YTD: -3.27%
• 6M: -2.63%
• 1Y: -14.85%
• 3Y*: -16.85%
• 5Y*: -13.87%
• 10Y*: 0.41%

UNG

• 1D: 1.70%
• 1M: 1.70%
• YTD: -7.42%
• 6M: -10.84%
• 1Y: -30.62%
• 3Y*: -23.83%
• 5Y*: -24.47%
• 10Y*: -21.38%

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

PSEC vs. UNG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PSEC Prospect Capital Corporation	-3.27%	-28.86%	-18.16%	-4.13%	-8.61%	70.00%	-3.54%	13.83%	4.09%	-9.44%
UNG United States Natural Gas Fund LP	-7.42%	-27.07%	-17.11%	-64.04%	12.89%	35.76%	-45.43%	-31.77%	5.96%	-37.58%

Correlation

The correlation between PSEC and UNG is -0.05, 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	-0.05
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.00
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.06
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.05
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 18, 2007	0.05

The correlation between PSEC and UNG shifts across timeframes, from -0.05 (1 year) to 0.06 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

PSEC vs. UNG — Risk / Return Rank

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

PSEC

PSEC Risk / Return Rank: 20
PSEC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 21
PSEC Sortino Ratio Rank: 20
PSEC Omega Ratio Rank: 21
PSEC Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
PSEC Martin Ratio Rank: 18

UNG

UNG Risk / Return Rank: 5
UNG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5
UNG Sortino Ratio Rank: 6
UNG Omega Ratio Rank: 6
UNG Calmar Ratio Rank: 4
UNG Martin Ratio Rank: 5

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.

PSEC vs. UNG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) and United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG). 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.

	PSEC	UNG	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.50	-0.49	-0.01
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-0.54	-0.36	-0.18
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.94	0.95	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.63	-0.67	+0.05
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.13	-0.97	-0.15

PSEC vs. UNG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PSEC Sharpe Ratio is -0.50, which is comparable to the UNG Sharpe Ratio of -0.49. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PSEC and UNG, 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

PSEC vs. UNG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PSEC drawdown since its inception was -61.51%, smaller than the maximum UNG drawdown of -99.88%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSEC and UNG.

Drawdown Indicators

	PSEC	UNG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-61.51%	-99.88%	+38.37%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-27.04%	-43.86%	+16.82%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-50.64%	-68.16%	+17.52%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-57.21%	-92.49%	+35.28%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-57.21%	-93.55%	+36.34%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-53.33%	-99.86%	+46.53%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-15.65%	-89.96%	+74.31%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	15.04%	30.28%	-15.24%

Volatility

PSEC vs. UNG - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) is 10.61%, while United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG) has a volatility of 12.64%. This indicates that PSEC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UNG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PSEC	UNG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.61%	12.64%	-2.03%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	27.53%	52.01%	-24.48%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	33.82%	60.61%	-26.79%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	28.06%	64.11%	-36.05%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	27.36%	54.77%	-27.41%

Dividends

PSEC vs. UNG - Dividend Comparison

PSEC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 22.94%, while UNG has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PSEC Prospect Capital Corporation	22.94%	20.85%	16.01%	12.02%	10.30%	8.56%	13.31%	11.18%	11.41%	13.45%	11.98%	14.72%
UNG United States Natural Gas Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PSEC and UNG in my portfolio?

PSEC and UNG have a correlation of -0.05, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PSEC or UNG?

UNG has higher volatility (12.64%) compared to PSEC (10.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PSEC dropped -61.51% vs UNG's -99.88%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

UNG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.49 vs -0.50), 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.