SLV vs. YCS
SLV (iShares Silver Trust) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - SLV is a Silver fund tracking the LBMA Silver Price, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the JPY/USD 4:00 p.m. ET Cross Rate. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SLV returned 11.60%/yr vs 13.35%/yr for YCS. Their -0.24 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. SLV charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.95%/yr for YCS.
Performance
SLV vs. YCS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SLV achieves a -12.96% return, which is significantly lower than YCS's 5.40% return. Over the past 10 years, SLV has underperformed YCS with an annualized return of 11.60%, while YCS has yielded a comparatively higher 13.35% annualized return.
SLV
- 1D
- 4.14%
- 1M
- -0.07%
- 6M
- -29.19%
- YTD
- -12.96%
- 1Y
- 63.23%
- 3Y*
- 37.31%
- 5Y*
- 20.01%
- 10Y*
- 11.60%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.52%
YCS
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- -4.94%
- 6M
- 4.42%
- YTD
- 5.40%
- 1Y
- 22.68%
- 3Y*
- 17.44%
- 5Y*
- 22.89%
- 10Y*
- 13.35%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.33%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $767.61M | $778.40M | $1.22B | |
| $2.59M | $2.15M | $1.60M |
SLV vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SLV iShares Silver Trust | -12.96% | 144.66% | 20.89% | -1.09% | 2.37% | -12.45% | 47.30% | 14.88% | -9.19% | 5.82% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 5.40% | 9.04% | 35.41% | 28.70% | 29.09% | 22.38% | -11.18% | 3.37% | -1.49% | -6.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between SLV and YCS is -0.12, meaning they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. This relationship can weaken or reverse as market conditions change.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | -0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | -0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | -0.27 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | -0.30 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 25, 2008 | -0.24 |
The correlation between SLV and YCS shifts across timeframes, from -0.30 (10 years) to -0.12 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SLV vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank
SLV
YCS
SLV vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS). 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.
| SLV | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.35 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.27 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.22 | 2.69 | -1.47 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.28 | 9.73 | -7.45 |
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Drawdowns
SLV vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SLV drawdown since its inception was -76.28%, which is greater than YCS's maximum drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SLV and YCS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SLV | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -76.28% | -49.56% | -26.72% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -52.28% | -8.48% | -43.80% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -52.28% | -23.05% | -29.23% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -52.28% | -27.32% | -24.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -52.28% | -27.32% | -24.96% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -46.90% | -7.34% | -39.56% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -44.69% | -19.75% | -24.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 27.82% | 2.34% | +25.48% |
Volatility
SLV vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison
iShares Silver Trust (SLV) has a higher volatility of 11.38% compared to ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) at 5.95%. This indicates that SLV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than YCS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SLV | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.38% | 5.95% | +5.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 44.01% | 11.87% | +32.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 61.50% | 16.43% | +45.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 37.04% | 21.21% | +15.83% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 32.24% | 18.61% | +13.63% |
SLV vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison
SLV has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 0.95% expense ratio.
Dividends
SLV vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison
Neither SLV nor YCS has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
SLV and YCS have a correlation of -0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SLV has higher volatility (11.38%) compared to YCS (5.95%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SLV dropped -76.28% vs YCS's -49.56%.
On 10-year performance, YCS leads with 13.35% vs 11.60% for SLV. On fees, SLV is cheaper at 0.50% per year. On volatility, YCS has been the lower-risk option at 5.95%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, YCS has performed better with a 13.35% return vs 11.60%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SLV is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 0.95% for YCS.
SLV and YCS have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
SLV is categorized as Silver, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. SLV tracks LBMA Silver Price, while YCS tracks JPY/USD 4:00 p.m. ET Cross Rate. They also come from different issuers: iShares and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for SLV and 0.95% for YCS.
YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.39 vs 1.03), 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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