TRND vs. AAUS

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

TRND (Pacer Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF) and AAUS (Alpha Architect US Equity ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds. TRND is passively managed, while AAUS is actively managed. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. TRND charges 0.77%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for AAUS.

Performance

TRND vs. AAUS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Pacer Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF (TRND) and Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TRND achieves a 8.99% return, which is significantly higher than AAUS's 6.04% return.

TRND

• 1D: 0.58%
• 1M: -0.39%
• YTD: 8.99%
• 6M: 7.78%
• 1Y: 19.24%
• 3Y*: 11.46%
• 5Y*: 5.85%
• 10Y*: —

AAUS

• 1D: -0.20%
• 1M: -2.66%
• YTD: 6.04%
• 6M: 4.81%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

TRND vs. AAUS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
TRND Pacer Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF	8.99%	6.94%
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	6.04%	10.11%

Correlation

The correlation between TRND and AAUS is 0.93, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2025	0.93

Return for Risk

TRND vs. AAUS — Risk / Return Rank

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

TRND

TRND Risk / Return Rank: 55
TRND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
TRND Sortino Ratio Rank: 53
TRND Omega Ratio Rank: 52
TRND Calmar Ratio Rank: 56
TRND Martin Ratio Rank: 62

AAUS

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

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.

TRND vs. AAUS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF (TRND) and Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS). 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.

	TRND	AAUS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.60	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.26	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.29	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.41	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.86	—	—

Drawdowns

TRND vs. AAUS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TRND drawdown since its inception was -17.88%, which is greater than AAUS's maximum drawdown of -9.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TRND and AAUS.

Drawdown Indicators

	TRND	AAUS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-17.88%	-9.13%	-8.75%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.00%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-9.56%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.21%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.53%	-3.86%	+2.33%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.19%	-1.39%	-3.80%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.96%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	TRND	AAUS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.94%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.92%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.08%	12.87%	-0.79%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	9.92%	12.87%	-2.95%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.27%	12.87%	-1.60%

TRND vs. AAUS - Expense Ratio Comparison

TRND has a 0.77% expense ratio, which is higher than AAUS's 0.15% expense ratio.

Dividends

TRND vs. AAUS - Dividend Comparison

TRND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.13%, more than AAUS's 0.35% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	0.35%	0.37%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
TRND Pacer Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF	2.13%	2.32%	2.31%	2.51%	1.76%	0.93%	0.60%	0.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TRND and AAUS in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.93, TRND and AAUS 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.

Which ETF is better, TRND or AAUS?

On fees, AAUS is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, TRND or AAUS?

AAUS is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.77% for TRND.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, TRND or AAUS?

TRND has the higher dividend yield at 2.13%, compared with 0.35% for AAUS.

What is the main difference between TRND and AAUS?

They also come from different issuers: Pacer and Alpha Architect. Their fees differ too: 0.77% for TRND and 0.15% for AAUS.