VOT vs. YCS
VOT (Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF) and YCS (ProShares UltraShort Yen) are both exchange-traded funds - VOT is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index, while YCS is a Leveraged Currency fund tracking the USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VOT returned 12.50%/yr vs 13.62%/yr for YCS. At a 0.17 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VOT charges 0.05%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for YCS.
Performance
VOT vs. YCS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VOT achieves a 7.86% return, which is significantly lower than YCS's 9.63% return. Over the past 10 years, VOT has underperformed YCS with an annualized return of 12.50%, while YCS has yielded a comparatively higher 13.62% annualized return.
VOT
- 1D
- -1.99%
- 1M
- 3.19%
- YTD
- 7.86%
- 6M
- 5.95%
- 1Y
- 10.01%
- 3Y*
- 15.69%
- 5Y*
- 5.73%
- 10Y*
- 12.50%
YCS
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- 3.57%
- YTD
- 9.63%
- 6M
- 10.44%
- 1Y
- 31.27%
- 3Y*
- 18.37%
- 5Y*
- 23.52%
- 10Y*
- 13.62%
VOT vs. YCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOT Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 7.86% | 10.72% | 16.38% | 23.10% | -28.87% | 20.50% | 34.50% | 33.76% | -5.56% | 21.80% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 9.63% | 9.04% | 35.41% | 28.70% | 29.09% | 22.38% | -11.18% | 3.37% | -1.49% | -6.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between VOT and YCS is -0.16, 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 | -0.16 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 25, 2008 | 0.17 |
The correlation between VOT and YCS shifts across timeframes, from -0.16 (1 year) to 0.17 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VOT vs. YCS — Risk / Return Rank
VOT
YCS
VOT vs. YCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) 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.
| VOT | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.43 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.34 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.63 | 3.78 | -3.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.87 | 11.93 | -10.05 |
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Drawdowns
VOT vs. YCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VOT drawdown since its inception was -60.16%, which is greater than YCS's maximum drawdown of -49.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VOT and YCS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VOT | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.16% | -49.56% | -10.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.96% | -8.30% | -7.66% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.77% | -23.05% | +1.28% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -37.19% | -27.32% | -9.87% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.19% | -27.32% | -9.87% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.99% | -0.14% | -1.85% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.94% | -19.87% | +9.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.35% | 2.65% | +2.70% |
Volatility
VOT vs. YCS - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) has a higher volatility of 7.06% compared to ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) at 2.25%. This indicates that VOT'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
| VOT | YCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.06% | 2.25% | +4.81% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.69% | 12.19% | +1.50% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.92% | 16.93% | -0.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.53% | 21.10% | +0.43% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.04% | 18.82% | +2.22% |
VOT vs. YCS - Expense Ratio Comparison
VOT has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than YCS's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
VOT vs. YCS - Dividend Comparison
VOT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.62%, while YCS has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOT Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 0.62% | 0.64% | 0.67% | 0.71% | 0.78% | 0.34% | 0.56% | 0.78% | 0.84% | 0.72% | 0.81% | 0.81% |
YCS ProShares UltraShort Yen | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VOT and YCS have a correlation of -0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VOT has higher volatility (7.06%) compared to YCS (2.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VOT dropped -60.16% vs YCS's -49.56%.
On 10-year performance, YCS leads with 13.62% vs 12.50% for VOT. On fees, VOT is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, YCS has been the lower-risk option at 2.25%. 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 13.62% return vs 12.50%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VOT is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for YCS.
VOT has the higher dividend yield at 0.62%, compared with 0.00% for YCS.
VOT is categorized as Mid Cap Growth Equities, while YCS is Leveraged Currency. VOT tracks CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index, while YCS tracks USD/JPY Exchange Rate (-200%). They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for VOT and 1.00% for YCS.
YCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.86 vs 0.59), 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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