PWS vs. GSG
PWS (Pacer WealthShield ETF) and GSG (iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - PWS is a Diversified Portfolio fund tracking the Pacer WealthShield Index, while GSG is a Commodities fund tracking the S&P GSCI Total Return Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PWS returned 0.31%/yr vs 15.74%/yr for GSG. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. PWS charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for GSG.
Performance
PWS vs. GSG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PWS achieves a -2.18% return, which is significantly lower than GSG's 42.58% return.
PWS
- 1D
- 1.03%
- 1M
- -0.99%
- YTD
- -2.18%
- 6M
- -3.95%
- 1Y
- 7.28%
- 3Y*
- 7.37%
- 5Y*
- 0.31%
- 10Y*
- —
GSG
- 1D
- 0.77%
- 1M
- -4.83%
- YTD
- 42.58%
- 6M
- 41.06%
- 1Y
- 51.52%
- 3Y*
- 19.31%
- 5Y*
- 15.74%
- 10Y*
- 7.69%
PWS vs. GSG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PWS Pacer WealthShield ETF | -2.18% | 8.05% | 14.01% | -3.58% | -12.10% | 14.43% | 22.16% | 1.36% | -3.29% | 0.96% |
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 42.58% | 5.93% | 8.52% | -5.51% | 24.08% | 38.77% | -23.94% | 15.62% | -13.88% | 5.10% |
Correlation
The correlation between PWS and GSG is -0.14, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.14 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 13, 2017 | 0.13 |
The correlation between PWS and GSG shifts across timeframes, from -0.14 (1 year) to 0.13 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PWS vs. GSG — Risk / Return Rank
PWS
GSG
PWS vs. GSG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) and iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG). 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 | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.92 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.40 | -0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.06 | 5.47 | -4.41 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.64 | 14.39 | -11.75 |
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 | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.64 | 2.26 | -1.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 | 0.70 | -0.67 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.35 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.29 | -0.09 | +0.38 |
Drawdowns
PWS vs. GSG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PWS drawdown since its inception was -24.93%, smaller than the maximum GSG drawdown of -89.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PWS and GSG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PWS | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -24.93% | -89.62% | +64.69% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.88% | -9.46% | +2.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -10.47% | -14.94% | +4.47% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.93% | -29.12% | +4.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -57.64% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.92% | -56.95% | +51.03% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.11% | -63.71% | +54.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.76% | 3.59% | -0.83% |
Volatility
PWS vs. GSG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) is 2.64%, while iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) has a volatility of 7.65%. This indicates that PWS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GSG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PWS | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.64% | 7.65% | -5.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.18% | 20.42% | -13.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.47% | 22.95% | -11.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.93% | 22.61% | -10.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.39% | 22.03% | -7.64% |
PWS vs. GSG - Expense Ratio Comparison
PWS has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is lower than GSG's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
PWS vs. GSG - Dividend Comparison
PWS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.49%, while GSG has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PWS Pacer WealthShield ETF | 1.49% | 1.59% | 1.33% | 2.21% | 1.45% | 0.94% | 0.53% | 1.77% | 1.16% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PWS and GSG have a correlation of -0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GSG has higher volatility (7.65%) compared to PWS (2.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PWS dropped -24.93% vs GSG's -89.62%.
On 5-year performance, GSG leads with 15.74% vs 0.31% for PWS. On fees, PWS is cheaper at 0.60% per year. On volatility, PWS has been the lower-risk option at 2.64%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, GSG has performed better with a 15.74% return vs 0.31%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
PWS is cheaper with a 0.60% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for GSG.
PWS has the higher dividend yield at 1.49%, compared with 0.00% for GSG.
PWS is categorized as Diversified Portfolio, while GSG is Commodities. PWS tracks Pacer WealthShield Index, while GSG tracks S&P GSCI Total Return Index. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for PWS and 0.75% for GSG.
GSG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.26 vs 0.64), 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.
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