WEBS vs. ESGU
WEBS (Daily Dow Jones Internet Bear 3X Shares) and ESGU (iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - WEBS is a Leveraged Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (300%), while ESGU is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, WEBS returned -31.10%/yr vs 11.91%/yr for ESGU. At a correlation of -0.82, they often move in opposite directions. WEBS charges 1.07%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for ESGU.
Performance
WEBS vs. ESGU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WEBS achieves a 3.81% return, which is significantly lower than ESGU's 8.38% return.
WEBS
- 1D
- 0.85%
- 1M
- 15.73%
- YTD
- 3.81%
- 6M
- 7.21%
- 1Y
- -11.42%
- 3Y*
- -45.58%
- 5Y*
- -31.10%
- 10Y*
- —
ESGU
- 1D
- -1.34%
- 1M
- -1.03%
- YTD
- 8.38%
- 6M
- 7.35%
- 1Y
- 23.73%
- 3Y*
- 20.47%
- 5Y*
- 11.91%
- 10Y*
- —
WEBS vs. ESGU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WEBS Daily Dow Jones Internet Bear 3X Shares | 3.81% | -40.66% | -56.62% | -75.58% | 117.15% | -39.82% | -87.18% | -10.90% |
ESGU iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF | 8.38% | 16.90% | 24.31% | 25.79% | -20.27% | 26.89% | 22.54% | 5.51% |
Correlation
The correlation between WEBS and ESGU is -0.74, 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 | -0.74 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.80 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.83 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 7, 2019 | -0.82 |
The correlation between WEBS and ESGU has been stable across timeframes, ranging from -0.83 to -0.74 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
WEBS vs. ESGU — Risk / Return Rank
WEBS
ESGU
WEBS vs. ESGU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Daily Dow Jones Internet Bear 3X Shares (WEBS) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU). 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.
| WEBS | ESGU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.02 | 1.33 | -0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.21 | 2.58 | -2.79 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.51 | 11.27 | -11.78 |
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Drawdowns
WEBS vs. ESGU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WEBS drawdown since its inception was -99.63%, which is greater than ESGU's maximum drawdown of -33.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WEBS and ESGU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WEBS | ESGU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.63% | -33.87% | -65.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -53.54% | -9.26% | -44.28% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -90.33% | -19.32% | -71.01% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -97.09% | -26.15% | -70.94% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -99.50% | -3.19% | -96.31% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -91.10% | -4.88% | -86.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 23.74% | 2.11% | +21.63% |
Volatility
WEBS vs. ESGU - Volatility Comparison
Daily Dow Jones Internet Bear 3X Shares (WEBS) has a higher volatility of 22.27% compared to iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) at 4.97%. This indicates that WEBS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ESGU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WEBS | ESGU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 22.27% | 4.97% | +17.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 46.43% | 10.11% | +36.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 59.80% | 12.81% | +46.99% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 82.13% | 17.42% | +64.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 89.76% | 18.60% | +71.16% |
WEBS vs. ESGU - Expense Ratio Comparison
WEBS has a 1.07% expense ratio, which is higher than ESGU's 0.15% expense ratio.
Dividends
WEBS vs. ESGU - Dividend Comparison
WEBS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.14%, more than ESGU's 0.95% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESGU iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF | 0.95% | 0.99% | 1.18% | 1.43% | 1.58% | 1.06% | 1.27% | 1.32% | 1.73% | 1.82% |
WEBS Daily Dow Jones Internet Bear 3X Shares | 3.14% | 3.77% | 8.02% | 8.51% | 0.20% | 0.00% | 1.11% | 0.11% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
WEBS and ESGU have a correlation of -0.74, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WEBS has higher volatility (22.27%) compared to ESGU (4.97%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WEBS dropped -99.63% vs ESGU's -33.87%.
On 5-year performance, ESGU leads with 11.91% vs -31.10% for WEBS. On fees, ESGU is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, ESGU has been the lower-risk option at 4.97%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, ESGU has performed better with a 11.91% return vs -31.10%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ESGU is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 1.07% for WEBS.
WEBS has the higher dividend yield at 3.14%, compared with 0.95% for ESGU.
WEBS is categorized as Leveraged Equities, while ESGU is Large Cap Blend Equities. WEBS tracks Dow Jones Internet Composite Index (300%), while ESGU tracks MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus Index. They also come from different issuers: Direxion and iShares. Their fees differ too: 1.07% for WEBS and 0.15% for ESGU.
ESGU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.86 vs -0.19), 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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