UXJA vs. PQAP

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

UXJA (FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January) and PQAP (PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April) are both Defined Outcome funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, UXJA returned 29.61% vs 21.47% for PQAP. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. UXJA charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for PQAP.

Performance

UXJA vs. PQAP - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January (UXJA) and PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April (PQAP). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with UXJA having a 11.66% return and PQAP slightly higher at 12.09%.

UXJA

• 1D: -0.67%
• 1M: 5.79%
• YTD: 11.66%
• 6M: 11.51%
• 1Y: 29.61%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

PQAP

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: 2.44%
• YTD: 12.09%
• 6M: 13.01%
• 1Y: 21.47%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

UXJA vs. PQAP - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
UXJA FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January	11.66%	13.93%
PQAP PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April	12.09%	12.95%

Correlation

The correlation between UXJA and PQAP is 0.87, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.87
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 22, 2025	0.89

The correlation between UXJA and PQAP has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.89 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

UXJA vs. PQAP — Risk / Return Rank

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

UXJA

UXJA Risk / Return Rank: 66
UXJA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
UXJA Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
UXJA Omega Ratio Rank: 65
UXJA Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
UXJA Martin Ratio Rank: 71

PQAP

PQAP Risk / Return Rank: 98
PQAP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
PQAP Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
PQAP Omega Ratio Rank: 98
PQAP Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
PQAP Martin Ratio Rank: 98

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.

UXJA vs. PQAP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January (UXJA) and PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April (PQAP). 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.

	UXJA	PQAP	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.20	4.86	-2.66
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.98	8.47	-5.49
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.38	2.20	-0.82
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.03	15.50	-12.47
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.05	86.25	-73.20
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

UXJA vs. PQAP - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UXJA Sharpe Ratio is 2.20, which is lower than the PQAP Sharpe Ratio of 4.86. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UXJA and PQAP, 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

	UXJA	PQAP	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.20	4.86	-2.66
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.04	1.76	-0.72

Drawdowns

UXJA vs. PQAP - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UXJA drawdown since its inception was -20.01%, which is greater than PQAP's maximum drawdown of -10.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UXJA and PQAP.

Drawdown Indicators

	UXJA	PQAP	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-20.01%	-10.79%	-9.22%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.83%	-1.39%	-8.44%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.67%	-0.12%	-0.55%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.97%	-0.60%	-2.37%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.27%	0.25%	+2.02%

Volatility

UXJA vs. PQAP - Volatility Comparison

FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January (UXJA) has a higher volatility of 3.40% compared to PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April (PQAP) at 1.02%. This indicates that UXJA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PQAP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UXJA	PQAP	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.40%	1.02%	+2.38%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.05%	3.09%	+6.96%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.54%	4.45%	+9.09%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.59%	11.03%	+7.56%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.59%	11.03%	+7.56%

UXJA vs. PQAP - Expense Ratio Comparison

UXJA has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than PQAP's 0.50% expense ratio.

Dividends

UXJA vs. PQAP - Dividend Comparison

UXJA has not paid dividends to shareholders, while PQAP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.02%.

Position	TTM	2025
PQAP PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April	0.02%	0.02%
UXJA FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UXJA and PQAP in my portfolio?

UXJA and PQAP have a correlation of 0.87, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UXJA or PQAP?

UXJA has higher volatility (3.40%) compared to PQAP (1.02%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UXJA dropped -20.01% vs PQAP's -10.79%.

Which ETF is better, UXJA or PQAP?

On 1-year performance, UXJA leads with 29.61% vs 21.47% for PQAP. On fees, PQAP is cheaper at 0.50% per year. On volatility, PQAP has been the lower-risk option at 1.02%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, UXJA or PQAP?

Over the 1-year period, UXJA has performed better with a 29.61% return vs 21.47%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, UXJA or PQAP?

PQAP is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for UXJA.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, UXJA or PQAP?

PQAP has the higher dividend yield at 0.02%, compared with 0.00% for UXJA.

What is the main difference between UXJA and PQAP?

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and PGIM. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for UXJA and 0.50% for PQAP.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PQAP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.86 vs 2.20), 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.