PTBD vs. NUHY

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

PTBD (Pacer Trendpilot US Bond ETF) and NUHY (Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) are both High Yield Bonds funds - PTBD tracks the Pacer Trendpilot US Bond Index while NUHY tracks the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI US Aggregate ESG Select Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PTBD returned -1.74%/yr vs 3.34%/yr for NUHY. Their 0.62 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. PTBD charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.30%/yr for NUHY.

Performance

PTBD vs. NUHY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Pacer Trendpilot US Bond ETF (PTBD) and Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PTBD achieves a 1.14% return, which is significantly lower than NUHY's 1.69% return.

PTBD

• 1D: 0.05%
• 1M: -0.42%
• 6M: 0.56%
• YTD: 1.14%
• 1Y: 2.26%
• 3Y*: 4.66%
• 5Y*: -1.74%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 0.81%

NUHY

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: -0.63%
• 6M: 1.17%
• YTD: 1.69%
• 1Y: 5.16%
• 3Y*: 8.12%
• 5Y*: 3.34%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 3.57%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
NUHY Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	$348.27K	$377.16K	$330.53K
PTBD Pacer Trendpilot US Bond ETF	$252.62K	$249.94K	$361.51K

PTBD vs. NUHY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
PTBD Pacer Trendpilot US Bond ETF	1.14%	2.49%	4.24%	8.84%	-20.88%	0.47%	10.62%	2.16%
NUHY Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	1.69%	9.12%	7.26%	11.18%	-11.80%	2.46%	4.14%	1.76%

Correlation

The correlation between PTBD and NUHY is 0.72, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.72
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.72
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.71
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 23, 2019	0.62

The correlation between PTBD and NUHY shifts across timeframes, from 0.62 (all time) to 0.72 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

PTBD vs. NUHY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

PTBD

PTBD Risk / Return Rank: 25
PTBD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 25
PTBD Sortino Ratio Rank: 24
PTBD Omega Ratio Rank: 24
PTBD Calmar Ratio Rank: 24
PTBD Martin Ratio Rank: 30

NUHY

NUHY Risk / Return Rank: 58
NUHY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 55
NUHY Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
NUHY Omega Ratio Rank: 58
NUHY Calmar Ratio Rank: 51
NUHY Martin Ratio Rank: 65

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

PTBD vs. NUHY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Trendpilot US Bond ETF (PTBD) and Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY). 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.

	PTBD	NUHY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.59	1.34	-0.74
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.88	2.07	-1.19
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.11	1.26	-0.15
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.72	1.82	-1.10
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.69	7.82	-5.13

PTBD vs. NUHY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PTBD Sharpe Ratio is 0.59, which is lower than the NUHY Sharpe Ratio of 1.34. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PTBD and NUHY, 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

PTBD vs. NUHY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PTBD drawdown since its inception was -26.00%, which is greater than NUHY's maximum drawdown of -20.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PTBD and NUHY.

Drawdown Indicators

	PTBD	NUHY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-26.00%	-20.14%	-5.86%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.12%	-2.87%	-0.25%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-3.82%	-4.68%	+0.86%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.84%	-16.92%	-8.92%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.74%	-0.91%	-7.83%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.13%	-3.46%	-6.67%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.84%	0.67%	+0.17%

Volatility

PTBD vs. NUHY - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Pacer Trendpilot US Bond ETF (PTBD) is 0.79%, while Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY) has a volatility of 0.97%. This indicates that PTBD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NUHY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PTBD	NUHY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.79%	0.97%	-0.18%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.98%	3.28%	-0.30%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.80%	3.92%	-0.12%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.25%	7.34%	-0.09%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	7.73%	8.43%	-0.70%

PTBD vs. NUHY - Expense Ratio Comparison

PTBD has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than NUHY's 0.30% expense ratio.

Dividends

PTBD vs. NUHY - Dividend Comparison

PTBD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.91%, less than NUHY's 6.72% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
NUHY Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	6.16%	6.51%	6.59%	6.64%	6.36%	4.88%	5.10%	1.37%
PTBD Pacer Trendpilot US Bond ETF	5.91%	5.62%	6.56%	6.55%	6.14%	2.70%	2.50%	0.62%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PTBD and NUHY in my portfolio?

PTBD and NUHY have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PTBD or NUHY?

NUHY has higher volatility (0.97%) compared to PTBD (0.79%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PTBD dropped -26.00% vs NUHY's -20.14%.

Which ETF is better, PTBD or NUHY?

On 5-year performance, NUHY leads with 3.34% vs -1.74% for PTBD. On fees, NUHY is cheaper at 0.30% per year. On volatility, PTBD has been the lower-risk option at 0.79%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, PTBD or NUHY?

Over the 5-year period, NUHY has performed better with a 3.34% return vs -1.74%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, PTBD or NUHY?

NUHY is cheaper with a 0.30% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for PTBD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, PTBD or NUHY?

NUHY has the higher dividend yield at 6.16%, compared with 5.91% for PTBD.

What is the main difference between PTBD and NUHY?

PTBD tracks Pacer Trendpilot US Bond Index, while NUHY tracks Bloomberg Barclays MSCI US Aggregate ESG Select Index. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and Nuveen. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for PTBD and 0.30% for NUHY.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

NUHY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.34 vs 0.59), 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.