UXOC vs. PQJA

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

UXOC (FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - October) and PQJA (PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - January) are both Defined Outcome funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, UXOC returned 30.90% vs 23.44% for PQJA. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. UXOC charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for PQJA.

Performance

UXOC vs. PQJA - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, UXOC achieves a 12.21% return, which is significantly higher than PQJA's 8.83% return.

UXOC

• 1D: 0.16%
• 1M: 5.91%
• YTD: 12.21%
• 6M: 12.25%
• 1Y: 30.90%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

PQJA

• 1D: 0.02%
• 1M: 3.12%
• YTD: 8.83%
• 6M: 10.29%
• 1Y: 23.44%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

UXOC vs. PQJA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
UXOC FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - October	12.21%	17.36%
PQJA PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - January	8.83%	16.94%

Correlation

The correlation between UXOC and PQJA is 0.91, 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	0.91
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 3, 2025	0.93

The correlation between UXOC and PQJA has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

UXOC vs. PQJA — Risk / Return Rank

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

UXOC

UXOC Risk / Return Rank: 68
UXOC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 70
UXOC Sortino Ratio Rank: 67
UXOC Omega Ratio Rank: 67
UXOC Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
UXOC Martin Ratio Rank: 73

PQJA

PQJA Risk / Return Rank: 83
PQJA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
PQJA Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
PQJA Omega Ratio Rank: 89
PQJA Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
PQJA Martin Ratio Rank: 83

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.

UXOC vs. PQJA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

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

	UXOC	PQJA	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.35	2.86	-0.51
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.15	4.05	-0.90
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.41	1.57	-0.16
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.19	3.53	-0.34
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	13.98	17.17	-3.19
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

UXOC vs. PQJA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UXOC Sharpe Ratio is 2.35, which is comparable to the PQJA Sharpe Ratio of 2.86. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UXOC and PQJA, 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

	UXOC	PQJA	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.35	2.86	-0.51
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.04	1.40	-0.35

Drawdowns

UXOC vs. PQJA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UXOC drawdown since its inception was -19.93%, which is greater than PQJA's maximum drawdown of -14.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UXOC and PQJA.

Drawdown Indicators

	UXOC	PQJA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-19.93%	-14.72%	-5.21%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.81%	-6.77%	-3.04%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.74%	-1.66%	-1.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.24%	1.39%	+0.85%

Volatility

UXOC vs. PQJA - Volatility Comparison

FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - October (UXOC) has a higher volatility of 3.31% compared to PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - January (PQJA) at 1.21%. This indicates that UXOC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PQJA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UXOC	PQJA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.31%	1.21%	+2.10%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.88%	6.66%	+3.22%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.21%	8.24%	+4.97%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.98%	13.44%	+4.54%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.98%	13.44%	+4.54%

UXOC vs. PQJA - Expense Ratio Comparison

UXOC has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than PQJA's 0.50% expense ratio.

Dividends

UXOC vs. PQJA - Dividend Comparison

Neither UXOC nor PQJA has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UXOC and PQJA in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.91, UXOC and PQJA 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 is riskier, UXOC or PQJA?

UXOC has higher volatility (3.31%) compared to PQJA (1.21%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UXOC dropped -19.93% vs PQJA's -14.72%.

Which ETF is better, UXOC or PQJA?

On 1-year performance, UXOC leads with 30.90% vs 23.44% for PQJA. On fees, PQJA is cheaper at 0.50% per year. On volatility, PQJA has been the lower-risk option at 1.21%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, UXOC or PQJA?

Over the 1-year period, UXOC has performed better with a 30.90% return vs 23.44%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, UXOC or PQJA?

PQJA is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for UXOC.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, UXOC or PQJA?

UXOC and PQJA have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between UXOC and PQJA?

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

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PQJA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.86 vs 2.35), 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.