Correlation Between ProShares UltraShort and First Trust

Can any of the company-specific risk be diversified away by investing in both ProShares UltraShort and First Trust at the same time? Although using a correlation coefficient on its own may not help to predict future stock returns, this module helps to understand the diversifiable risk of combining ProShares UltraShort and First Trust into the same portfolio, which is an essential part of the fundamental portfolio management process.

By analyzing existing cross correlation between ProShares UltraShort Utilities and First Trust Exchange Traded, you can compare the effects of market volatilities on ProShares UltraShort and First Trust and check how they will diversify away market risk if combined in the same portfolio for a given time horizon. You can also utilize pair trading strategies of matching a long position in ProShares UltraShort with a short position of First Trust. Check out your portfolio center. Please also check ongoing floating volatility patterns of ProShares UltraShort and First Trust.

Diversification Opportunities for ProShares UltraShort and First Trust

-0.08

Correlation Coefficient

ProShares UltraShort  First Trust

Good diversification

The 3 months correlation between ProShares and First is -0.08. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding ProShares UltraShort Utilities and First Trust Exchange Traded in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on First Trust Exchange and ProShares UltraShort is a relative statistical measure of the degree to which these equity instruments tend to move together. The correlation coefficient measures the extent to which returns on ProShares UltraShort Utilities are associated (or correlated) with First Trust. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of First Trust Exchange has no effect on the direction of ProShares UltraShort i.e., ProShares UltraShort and First Trust go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between ProShares UltraShort and First Trust

Considering the 90-day investment horizon ProShares UltraShort Utilities is expected to under-perform the First Trust. In addition to that, ProShares UltraShort is 1.72 times more volatile than First Trust Exchange Traded. It trades about -0.12 of its total potential returns per unit of risk. First Trust Exchange Traded is currently generating about 0.09 per unit of volatility. If you would invest  1,987  in First Trust Exchange Traded on April 27, 2025 and sell it today you would earn a total of  101.90  from holding First Trust Exchange Traded or generate 5.13% return on investment over 90 days.

Time Period	3 Months [change]
Direction	Moves Against
Strength	Insignificant
Accuracy	98.41%
Values	Daily Returns

ProShares UltraShort Utilities  vs.  First Trust Exchange Traded

ProShares UltraShort

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Very Weak

Over the last 90 days ProShares UltraShort Utilities has generated negative risk-adjusted returns adding no value to investors with long positions. Even with unsteady performance in the last few months, the Etf's fundamental indicators remain relatively invariable which may send shares a bit higher in August 2025. The latest agitation may also be a sign of long-running up-swing for the ETF retail investors.

First Trust Exchange

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Modest

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in First Trust Exchange Traded are ranked lower than 6 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. In spite of fairly stable technical and fundamental indicators, First Trust is not utilizing all of its potentials. The latest stock price fuss, may contribute to near-short-term losses for the sophisticated investors.

Pair Trading with ProShares UltraShort and First Trust

The main advantage of trading using opposite ProShares UltraShort and First Trust positions is that it hedges away some unsystematic risk. Because of two separate transactions, even if ProShares UltraShort position performs unexpectedly, First Trust can make up some of the losses. Pair trading also minimizes risk from directional movements in the market. For example, if an entire industry or sector drops because of unexpected headlines, the short position in First Trust will offset losses from the drop in First Trust's long position.

The idea behind ProShares UltraShort Utilities and First Trust Exchange Traded pairs trading is to make the combined position market-neutral, meaning the overall market's direction will not affect its win or loss (or potential downside or upside). This can be achieved by designing a pairs trade with two highly correlated stocks or equities that operate in a similar space or sector, making it possible to obtain profits through simple and relatively low-risk investment.

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Note that this page's information should be used as a complementary analysis to find the right mix of equity instruments to add to your existing portfolios or create a brand new portfolio. You can also try the Portfolio Rebalancing module to analyze risk-adjusted returns against different time horizons to find asset-allocation targets.