PULT vs. PBDC

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

PULT (Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF) and PBDC (Putnam BDC Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PULT is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by Putnam, while PBDC is a Financials Equities fund actively managed by Putnam. Both are actively managed. Over the past 3 years, PULT returned 5.35%/yr vs 7.76%/yr for PBDC. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions. PULT charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for PBDC.

Performance

PULT vs. PBDC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF (PULT) and Putnam BDC Income ETF (PBDC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PULT achieves a 1.23% return, which is significantly higher than PBDC's -9.74% return.

PULT

• 1D: -0.29%
• 1M: 0.35%
• YTD: 1.23%
• 6M: 1.65%
• 1Y: 4.26%
• 3Y*: 5.35%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

PBDC

• 1D: -2.15%
• 1M: -6.53%
• YTD: -9.74%
• 6M: -10.38%
• 1Y: -10.30%
• 3Y*: 7.76%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

PULT vs. PBDC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
PULT Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF	1.23%	5.08%	5.93%	5.46%
PBDC Putnam BDC Income ETF	-9.74%	-1.77%	19.43%	22.90%

Correlation

The correlation between PULT and PBDC is 0.03, 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	0.03
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.00
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 23, 2023	-0.02

PULT vs. PBDC - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	PULT	PBDC
Financial Services	2.8%	100.0%
Real Estate	1.5%	-
Industrials	0.9%	-
Consumer Cyclical	0.7%	-
Communication Services	0.6%	-
Technology	0.6%	-
Healthcare	0.3%	-
Utilities	0.2%	-
Energy	0.1%	-
Basic Materials	0.1%	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-

Return for Risk

PULT vs. PBDC — Risk / Return Rank

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

PULT

PULT Risk / Return Rank: 98
PULT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
PULT Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
PULT Omega Ratio Rank: 99
PULT Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
PULT Martin Ratio Rank: 99

PBDC

PBDC Risk / Return Rank: 4
PBDC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4
PBDC Sortino Ratio Rank: 4
PBDC Omega Ratio Rank: 4
PBDC Calmar Ratio Rank: 4
PBDC Martin Ratio Rank: 4

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.

PULT vs. PBDC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF (PULT) and Putnam BDC Income ETF (PBDC). 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.

	PULT	PBDC	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	5.71	-0.56	+6.28
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	10.25	-0.69	+10.94
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	3.12	0.92	+2.20
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	14.92	-0.51	+15.43
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	102.05	-0.94	+102.99
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PULT vs. PBDC - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PULT Sharpe Ratio is 5.71, which is higher than the PBDC Sharpe Ratio of -0.56. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PULT and PBDC, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PULT	PBDC	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.71	-0.56	+6.28
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	8.37	0.73	+7.64

Drawdowns

PULT vs. PBDC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PULT drawdown since its inception was -0.34%, smaller than the maximum PBDC drawdown of -20.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PULT and PBDC.

Drawdown Indicators

	PULT	PBDC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.34%	-20.47%	+20.13%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.29%	-20.15%	+19.86%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.29%	-20.47%	+20.18%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.29%	-17.21%	+16.92%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.02%	-4.66%	+4.64%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.04%	10.95%	-10.91%

Volatility

PULT vs. PBDC - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF (PULT) is 0.52%, while Putnam BDC Income ETF (PBDC) has a volatility of 5.13%. This indicates that PULT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PBDC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PULT	PBDC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.52%	5.13%	-4.61%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.62%	15.03%	-14.41%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.75%	18.31%	-17.56%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.63%	17.04%	-16.41%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.63%	17.04%	-16.41%

PULT vs. PBDC - Expense Ratio Comparison

PULT has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than PBDC's 0.75% expense ratio.

Dividends

PULT vs. PBDC - Dividend Comparison

PULT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.65%, less than PBDC's 11.69% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
PBDC Putnam BDC Income ETF	11.69%	10.53%	9.29%	9.86%	3.40%
PULT Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF	4.65%	4.59%	5.38%	4.88%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PULT and PBDC in my portfolio?

PULT and PBDC have a correlation of 0.03, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PULT or PBDC?

PBDC has higher volatility (5.13%) compared to PULT (0.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PULT dropped -0.34% vs PBDC's -20.47%.

Which ETF is better, PULT or PBDC?

On 3-year performance, PBDC leads with 7.76% vs 5.35% for PULT. On fees, PULT is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, PULT has been the lower-risk option at 0.52%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, PULT or PBDC?

Over the 3-year period, PBDC has performed better with a 7.76% return vs 5.35%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, PULT or PBDC?

PULT is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for PBDC.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, PULT or PBDC?

PBDC has the higher dividend yield at 11.69%, compared with 4.65% for PULT.

What is the main difference between PULT and PBDC?

PULT is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while PBDC is Financials Equities. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for PULT and 0.75% for PBDC.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PULT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (5.71 vs -0.56), 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.