PWS vs. GAA
Compare and contrast key facts about Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) and Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF (GAA).
PWS and GAA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. PWS is a passively managed fund by Pacer that tracks the performance of the Pacer WealthShield Index. It was launched on Dec 11, 2017. GAA is an actively managed fund by Cambria. It was launched on Dec 9, 2014.
Performance
PWS vs. GAA - Performance Comparison
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PWS vs. GAA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PWS Pacer WealthShield ETF | -0.91% | 8.05% | 14.01% | -3.58% | -12.10% | 14.43% | 22.16% | 1.36% | -3.29% | 0.96% |
GAA Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF | 3.89% | 18.76% | 6.67% | 7.65% | -8.47% | 11.17% | 9.11% | 15.12% | -7.15% | 1.80% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PWS achieves a -0.91% return, which is significantly lower than GAA's 3.89% return.
PWS
- 1D
- 0.28%
- 1M
- -3.73%
- YTD
- -0.91%
- 6M
- 0.33%
- 1Y
- 5.43%
- 3Y*
- 7.38%
- 5Y*
- 1.86%
- 10Y*
- —
GAA
- 1D
- 1.44%
- 1M
- -4.27%
- YTD
- 3.89%
- 6M
- 8.34%
- 1Y
- 19.51%
- 3Y*
- 11.98%
- 5Y*
- 6.28%
- 10Y*
- 7.36%
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PWS vs. GAA - Expense Ratio Comparison
PWS has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than GAA's 0.41% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PWS vs. GAA — Risk / Return Rank
PWS
GAA
PWS vs. GAA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) and Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF (GAA). 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.
| PWS | GAA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.47 | 1.90 | -1.44 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.73 | 2.55 | -1.82 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.36 | -0.27 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.03 | 2.86 | -1.83 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.75 | 11.75 | -9.00 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PWS | GAA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 | 1.90 | -1.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.15 | 0.56 | -0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.67 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 0.60 | -0.29 |
Correlation
The correlation between PWS and GAA is 0.36, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
PWS vs. GAA - Dividend Comparison
PWS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.47%, less than GAA's 3.78% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PWS Pacer WealthShield ETF | 1.47% | 1.59% | 1.33% | 2.21% | 1.45% | 0.94% | 0.53% | 1.77% | 1.16% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
GAA Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF | 3.78% | 4.24% | 3.88% | 3.73% | 6.05% | 4.21% | 2.73% | 3.32% | 3.01% | 2.36% | 2.82% | 2.49% |
Drawdowns
PWS vs. GAA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PWS drawdown since its inception was -24.93%, smaller than the maximum GAA drawdown of -26.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PWS and GAA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PWS | GAA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -24.93% | -26.57% | +1.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.15% | -7.18% | +1.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.93% | -18.47% | -6.46% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -26.57% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.70% | -4.27% | -0.43% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.20% | -3.90% | -5.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.31% | 1.75% | +0.56% |
Volatility
PWS vs. GAA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) is 3.85%, while Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF (GAA) has a volatility of 4.33%. This indicates that PWS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GAA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PWS | GAA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.85% | 4.33% | -0.48% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.84% | 7.20% | +2.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.76% | 10.33% | +1.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.11% | 11.27% | +0.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.51% | 11.05% | +3.46% |