PTLC vs. DMAY
PTLC (Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF) and DMAY (FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds - PTLC tracks the Pacer Trendpilot U.S. Large Cap Index while DMAY tracks the Cboe S&P 500 30% (-5% to -35%) Buffer Protect May Series Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PTLC returned 9.97%/yr vs 6.78%/yr for DMAY. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PTLC charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.85%/yr for DMAY.
Performance
PTLC vs. DMAY - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PTLC achieves a 2.97% return, which is significantly lower than DMAY's 3.36% return.
PTLC
- 1D
- -1.38%
- 1M
- -1.33%
- YTD
- 2.97%
- 6M
- 2.00%
- 1Y
- 17.43%
- 3Y*
- 13.44%
- 5Y*
- 9.97%
- 10Y*
- 11.31%
DMAY
- 1D
- -0.56%
- 1M
- -0.40%
- YTD
- 3.36%
- 6M
- 3.37%
- 1Y
- 10.73%
- 3Y*
- 11.27%
- 5Y*
- 6.78%
- 10Y*
- —
PTLC vs. DMAY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTLC Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF | 2.97% | 5.10% | 24.31% | 16.78% | -8.62% | 27.90% | 22.55% |
DMAY FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | 3.36% | 11.05% | 12.82% | 15.40% | -9.98% | 6.14% | 6.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between PTLC and DMAY is 0.91, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 18, 2020 | 0.76 |
The correlation between PTLC and DMAY shifts across timeframes, from 0.76 (all time) to 0.91 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
PTLC vs. DMAY — Risk / Return Rank
PTLC
DMAY
PTLC vs. DMAY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF (PTLC) and FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May (DMAY). 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.
| PTLC | DMAY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.68 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.47 | -0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.00 | 3.23 | -1.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.66 | 18.05 | -10.38 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
PTLC vs. DMAY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PTLC drawdown since its inception was -26.63%, which is greater than DMAY's maximum drawdown of -13.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PTLC and DMAY.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| PTLC | DMAY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.63% | -13.90% | -12.73% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.77% | -3.36% | -5.41% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.17% | -12.38% | -2.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.17% | -13.90% | -1.27% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.63% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.15% | -1.31% | -1.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.63% | -2.23% | -3.40% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.28% | 0.60% | +1.68% |
Volatility
PTLC vs. DMAY - Volatility Comparison
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF (PTLC) has a higher volatility of 4.91% compared to FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May (DMAY) at 2.26%. This indicates that PTLC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DMAY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| PTLC | DMAY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.91% | 2.26% | +2.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.19% | 4.30% | +4.89% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.98% | 5.09% | +6.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.87% | 9.07% | +2.80% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.19% | 8.43% | +4.76% |
PTLC vs. DMAY - Expense Ratio Comparison
PTLC has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is lower than DMAY's 0.85% expense ratio.
Dividends
PTLC vs. DMAY - Dividend Comparison
PTLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.03%, while DMAY has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DMAY FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PTLC Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF | 1.03% | 1.06% | 0.67% | 1.18% | 1.26% | 0.73% | 1.08% | 1.10% | 1.00% | 0.97% | 1.08% | 0.42% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, PTLC and DMAY move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
PTLC has higher volatility (4.91%) compared to DMAY (2.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PTLC dropped -26.63% vs DMAY's -13.90%.
On 5-year performance, PTLC leads with 9.97% vs 6.78% for DMAY. On fees, PTLC is cheaper at 0.60% per year. On volatility, DMAY has been the lower-risk option at 2.26%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, PTLC has performed better with a 9.97% return vs 6.78%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
PTLC is cheaper with a 0.60% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for DMAY.
PTLC has the higher dividend yield at 1.03%, compared with 0.00% for DMAY.
PTLC tracks Pacer Trendpilot U.S. Large Cap Index, while DMAY tracks Cboe S&P 500 30% (-5% to -35%) Buffer Protect May Series Index. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for PTLC and 0.85% for DMAY.
DMAY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.14 vs 1.46), 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.
Find the right allocation for PTLC and DMAY
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer