Relative Intelligence · Banks

How UBS Group (UBS) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on UBS alone. It places UBS (UBS Group AG) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where UBS stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: UBS's full trading record, from May 2000 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- Right nowUBS has gone against the market, falling 8.3% over the past 3 months while the S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Its bank peers were far apart over the past 3 months, from JPM (JPMorgan Chase & Co., down 0.6%) to BAC (Bank of America, down 15.8%). Consistency ↓
- Stock or market?Not a move of its own: the banks ETF KBE (State Street SPDR S&P Bank ETF) fell 6.8% over the past 3 months, with BAC (Bank of America, down 15.8%) and HSBC (down 5.9%), while the S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Its bank peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: JPM (JPMorgan Chase & Co.) fell 0.6%, while BAC fell 15.8%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsOver the past year, UBS rose 26.3% against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100. The same gap shows up over 3 years (116% against 89.3%). It took 3 months for UBS to win back the 26.1% it lost from January 2026 to March 2026. the S&P 500 fell 8.6% over those same dates. By year ↓
- Long termUBS turned $10,000 into $47,400 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. UBS's 10-year return of 374% puts it ahead of 80% of the stocks worth at least $300 million with that much history. The S&P 500 returned 321%. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashAcross six sell-offs, UBS has typically fallen 1.8 times as far as the S&P 500. Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationUBS is some diversification, but not a hedge: a correlation of 0.60 with the S&P 500 over 5 years and 0.60 with the total US market, more closely than 90% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Over 10 years, UBS's beta versus the S&P 500 was 1.18: in the S&P 500's rising months it gained 1.2 times as much as the index, and in falling months it lost 1.2 times as much. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Nearby categories and themes
- MFG (Mizuho Financial Group, banks) earned more for the risk it took than UBS over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 45.7%, against 59.8% for UBS.
- Whole market
- Few investments have done better on both counts: only 12 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than UBS with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them XOM (Exxonmobil), HSBC and MCK (McKesson).
How much would $10,000 in UBS have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in UBS over the past 26 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of UBS over the same span and UBS's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
- $10,000 invested in UBS at the end of September 2000 would have grown to $44,195 by September 2026, less than the $84,332 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Six of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of UBS, and CM finished highest, at $233,444.
Choose a period
From the end of September 2000 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 939 of the 1,261 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of UBS; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- CM$233,444+2,234% total · +12.9% a year
- JPM$150,662+1,407% total · +11.0% a year
- GS$114,512+1,045% total · +9.8% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$84,332+743% total · +8.5% a year
- BBVA$66,746+567% total · +7.6% a year
- SAN$58,107+481% total · +7.0% a year
- HSBC$51,008+410% total · +6.5% a year
- UBS$44,195+342% total · +5.9% a year
- MS$42,275+323% total · +5.7% a year
- MUFG$36,563+266% total · +5.1% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 271 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of UBS; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- BBVA$57,750+478% total · +42.0% a year
- HSBC$51,297+413% total · +38.7% a year
- SAN$45,493+355% total · +35.4% a year
- SMFG$44,827+348% total · +35.0% a year
- MUFG$44,537+345% total · +34.8% a year
- UBS$34,575+246% total · +28.2% a year
- CM$25,433+154% total · +20.5% a year
- JPM$22,905+129% total · +18.0% a year
- MS$22,663+127% total · +17.8% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
UBS at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
- UBS's deepest decline since it began trading in 2000 was 89.0%, from April 2007 to March 2009. It took about 17 years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 25 full calendar years, UBS's best was 2023, when it returned 69.8%, and its worst was 2008, when it lost 68.9%. It lost money in seven of those years.
- UBS is 15.2% below its all-time high.
The company
- Market value
- $145B
- Industry
- Banks - Diversified
- Price history from
- May 2000
Returns
- Past 1 year
- +26.3%total return
- Past 3 years
- +116%+29.3% a year
- Past 5 years
- +210%+25.4% a year
- Past 10 years
- +374%+16.8% a year
- Best calendar year
- +69.8%2023
- Worst calendar year
- −68.9%2008
- Losing years
- 7 of 25full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 30.4%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.90return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −89.0%Apr 2007 to Mar 2009
- From its all-time high
- −15.2%below the peak
UBS against the whole market
Where UBS ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does UBS rank among all stocks?
This section ranks UBS on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how UBS stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- On return for the risk taken (the Sharpe ratio), UBS ranks in the top 6% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million.
Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | UBS | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +26.3% | 1,075 of 3,287 | top 33% |
| 3-year return | +116% | 801 of 3,017 | top 27% |
| 5-year return | +210% | 291 of 2,893 | top 10% |
| 10-year return | +374% | 451 of 2,202 | top 20% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 30.4% | 768 of 2,893 | top 27% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.90 | 169 of 2,893 | top 6% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −59.8% | 869 of 2,187 | top 40% |
What has beaten UBS on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). UBS sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than UBS with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- Ten stocks and two ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than UBS over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is fewer than 1% of the 3,633 screened. Few investments beat it on both counts.
- Among those with at least half UBS's swings, CAH has the best return for its risk: 42.1% a year at 24.7% volatility, 19% less than UBS's 30.4%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.55 against 0.90 for UBS.
- Among UBS's popular alternatives, HSBC is in the region. HSBC earned 33.1% a year against 25.4% a year for UBS, at 25.9% volatility, 15% less than UBS's 30.4%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to UBS; faint dots are 6 more of the 12 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
Is there a better investment than UBS?
Investments that beat UBS over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among UBS's popular alternatives, HSBC earned more than UBS with less volatility over the past 5 years: 33.1% a year at 25.9% volatility, against 25.4% a year at 30.4%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, MFG (banks) earned more for the risk it took than UBS over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 45.7%, against 59.8% for UBS.
- Few investments have done better on both counts: only 12 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than UBS with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them XOM, HSBC and MCK.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat UBS over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks UBS's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than UBS follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than UBS's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× UBS's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than UBS's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with UBS?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| +25.4% | 30.4% | 0.90 | −59.8% | +374% | 1.00 | — | |||
| +12.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 | −33.7% | +321% | 0.60 | 0.09% | |||
| Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against UBS. 6 of 24 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +33.7% | 29.4% | 1.14 | −47.6% | +474% | 0.30 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +33.1% | 25.9% | 1.24 | −62.3% | +319% | 0.45 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +33.2% | 29.4% | 1.13 | −54.9% | +483% | 0.27 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +38.7% | 33.3% | 1.16 | −69.6% | +542% | 0.57 | — | ||
| Higher return in most periods | +31.7% | 33.9% | 0.99 | −73.8% | +332% | 0.59 | — | ||
| Higher return in most periods | +19.2% | 21.6% | 0.93 | −47.3% | +395% | 0.50 | — | ||
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Banks and the categories next to it (Regional Banks, Capital Markets, Payment Processing, Asset Management), plus UBS's specific themes. 14 of 117 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +33.6% | 30.6% | 1.10 | −45.7% | +345% | 0.29 | — | ||
BAPCredicorp Ltd. · Banks | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +30.8% | 30.3% | 1.04 | −59.2% | +298% | 0.36 | — | |
CIBGrupo Cibest S.A. · Banks | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +32.9% | 32.9% | 1.03 | −70.4% | +345% | 0.42 | — | |
| Higher return in most periods | +26.3% | 33.8% | 0.86 | −62.1% | +190% | 0.20 | — | ||
| Higher return in most periods | +25.3% | 34.4% | 0.83 | −64.1% | +390% | 0.44 | — | ||
| Smaller losses in recent crashes | +12.8% | 22.9% | 0.64 | −36.4% | +429% | 0.53 | — | ||
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 178 of 3,492 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.19 | 0.48% | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +38.7% | 25.0% | 1.44 | −38.1% | +586% | -0.03 | — | ||
| On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +42.1% | 24.7% | 1.55 | −46.1% | +349% | 0.01 | — | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +40.7% | 32.8% | 1.21 | −34.5% | +1,807% | 0.09 | — | ||
NHCNational HealthCare Corporation · Medical - Care Facilities | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +32.0% | 28.5% | 1.12 | −35.3% | +394% | 0.28 | — | |
| Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +26.1% | 23.4% | 1.11 | −45.1% | +603% | 0.17 | — | ||
| Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +39.3% | 37.2% | 1.08 | −45.5% | +2,045% | 0.25 | — | ||
EPUiShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF · International | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +29.5% | 24.9% | 1.17 | −51.0% | +275% | 0.47 | 0.59% | |
What these numbers mean for UBS
- Annual return
- UBS returned 25.4% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $31,000. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- UBS's volatility over the past 5 years was 30.4%, 1.8 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, UBS's return lands within 30.4% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- UBS's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.90, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so UBS earned more for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- UBS's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 59.8%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 59.8% fall takes a 149% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, UBS's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.60 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against UBS instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a UBS holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 12 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than UBS with less volatility
Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. Best first; funds that hold the same thing are listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with UBS | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | Whole market | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.19 | 0.48% |
| 2 | Whole market | +38.7% | 25.0% | 1.44 | −38.1% | +586% | -0.03 | — | |
| 3 | Whole market | +42.1% | 24.7% | 1.55 | −46.1% | +349% | 0.01 | — | |
| 4 | NHCNational HealthCare Corporation · Medical - Care Facilities | Whole market | +32.0% | 28.5% | 1.12 | −35.3% | +394% | 0.28 | — |
| 5 | EPUiShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF · International | Whole market | +29.5% | 24.9% | 1.17 | −51.0% | +275% | 0.47 | 0.59% |
| 6 | Whole market | +27.4% | 28.8% | 0.99 | −54.7% | +789% | 0.45 | — | |
| 7 | Popular alternative | +33.1% | 25.9% | 1.24 | −62.3% | +319% | 0.45 | — | |
| 8 | CWCurtiss-Wright Corporation · Aerospace & Defense | Whole market | +30.8% | 28.7% | 1.08 | −48.7% | +512% | 0.29 | — |
| 9 | BLXBladex, Inc. · Banks - Regional | Whole market | +31.4% | 25.9% | 1.19 | −68.5% | +290% | 0.38 | — |
| 10 | Whole market | +27.1% | 26.5% | 1.04 | −61.0% | +214% | 0.17 | — | |
| 11 | PAAPlains All American Pipeline, L.P. · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +27.0% | 25.6% | 1.06 | −87.9% | +64.0% | 0.37 | — |
| 12 | PAGPPlains GP Holdings LP · Oil & Gas Midstream | Whole market | +26.8% | 26.1% | 1.05 | −88.0% | +56.3% | 0.37 | — |
UBS against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against UBS, compared period by period and year by year.
How do UBS's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at UBS, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- SMFG, MUFG and HSBC were both more rewarding and calmer than UBS over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, UBS returned 25.4% a year, more than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (30.4% against 17.1%).
Green points earned more than UBS with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. | +38.7% | 33.3% |
| SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | +33.7% | 29.4% |
| MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | +33.2% | 29.4% |
| HSBC HSBC Holdings plc | +33.1% | 25.9% |
| SAN Banco Santander, S.A. | +31.6% | 33.9% |
| UBS This pageUBS Group AG | +25.4% | 30.4% |
| ING ING Groep N.V. | +24.7% | 31.1% |
| BNY Bank of New York Mellon Corp | +22.7% | 24.4% |
| DB Deutsche Bank AG | +22.1% | 37.4% |
| LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc | +20.3% | 32.1% |
| GS The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | +19.6% | 28.6% |
| CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | +19.2% | 21.6% |
| BCS Barclays PLC | +18.5% | 34.1% |
| JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. | +17.3% | 24.3% |
| RY Royal Bank of Canada | +17.3% | 18.2% |
| MS Morgan Stanley | +16.0% | 28.8% |
| TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank | +15.8% | 20.0% |
| C Citigroup Inc. | +15.1% | 29.4% |
| BMO Bank of Montreal | +13.6% | 21.4% |
| BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia | +12.8% | 19.9% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.7% | 17.1% |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | +7.1% | 27.1% |
| KKR KKR & Co. Inc. | +5.7% | 39.8% |
| BAC Bank of America Corporation | +4.0% | 26.6% |
| SCHW The Charles Schwab Corporation | +3.6% | 31.9% |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | +0.4% | 39.8% |
Has UBS consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares UBS with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than UBS helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Seven of the 24 popular alternatives, led by MUFG, BBVA and SMFG, outperformed UBS in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- MUFG, BBVA and SMFG outperformed UBS in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- SMFG, MUFG and RY earned more for the risk they took than UBS (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than UBS over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| UBS UBS Group AG (this page) | — | −7.5% | −8.3% | +10.6% | +2.9% | +26.3% | +116% | +210% | +374% | 30.4% | 0.90 | −59.8% | — | $145B | — |
| MUFG QualifiedMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −6.9% | +1.8% | +19.6% | +36.5% | +41.3% | +184% | +319% | +483% | 29.4% | 1.13 | −54.9% | — | $244B | — |
| BBVA QualifiedBanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −10.4% | +3.1% | +11.7% | +11.3% | +35.2% | +281% | +413% | +542% | 33.3% | 1.16 | −69.6% | — | $142B | — |
| SMFG QualifiedSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −7.9% | −1.3% | +15.9% | +28.3% | +53.5% | +181% | +327% | +474% | 29.4% | 1.14 | −47.6% | — | $94B | — |
| CM QualifiedCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 4/5 short2/3 long | −2.0% | −3.3% | +4.3% | +25.8% | +44.4% | +261% | +141% | +395% | 21.6% | 0.93 | −47.3% | — | $103B | — |
| JPM QualifiedJPMorgan Chase & Co. | 3/5 short2/3 long | −4.3% | −0.6% | +6.8% | +5.0% | +13.0% | +150% | +122% | +537% | 24.3% | 0.78 | −43.6% | — | $891B | — |
| SAN QualifiedBanco Santander, S.A. | 3/5 short2/3 long | −10.2% | −1.4% | +4.5% | +9.8% | +35.9% | +305% | +295% | +332% | 33.9% | 0.99 | −73.8% | — | $194B | — |
| HSBC QualifiedHSBC Holdings plc | 3/5 short2/3 long | −10.1% | −5.9% | +2.3% | +19.8% | +47.7% | +201% | +318% | +319% | 25.9% | 1.24 | −62.3% | — | $324B | — |
| MS Financial - Capital MarketsMorgan Stanley | 0/5 short2/3 long | −12.5% | −14.0% | −4.4% | +0.8% | +13.9% | +170% | +110% | +627% | 28.8% | 0.66 | −51.3% | — | $285B | — |
| GS Financial - Capital MarketsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 0/5 short2/3 long | −7.8% | −15.7% | −5.2% | −1.8% | +18.2% | +215% | +145% | +521% | 28.6% | 0.77 | −48.8% | — | $258B | — |
| RY Banks - DiversifiedRoyal Bank of Canada | 5/5 short1/3 long | −3.5% | −4.8% | +12.0% | +18.9% | +39.2% | +173% | +122% | +352% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | — | $276B | — |
| TD Banks - DiversifiedThe Toronto-Dominion Bank | 5/5 short1/3 long | −0.9% | +2.1% | +16.3% | +33.1% | +57.5% | +141% | +109% | +310% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | — | $206B | — |
| BNS Banks - DiversifiedThe Bank of Nova Scotia | 5/5 short1/3 long | −2.3% | +6.9% | +22.4% | +28.9% | +50.0% | +162% | +83.1% | +187% | 19.9% | 0.71 | −46.9% | — | $112B | — |
| BNY Investment - Banking & Investment ServicesBank of New York Mellon Corp | 4/5 short1/3 long | −6.3% | −7.7% | +7.4% | +24.8% | +35.3% | +272% | +179% | +341% | 24.4% | 0.97 | −50.5% | — | $98B | — |
| ING Banks - DiversifiedING Groep N.V. | 4/5 short1/3 long | −10.7% | +2.4% | +14.0% | +18.9% | +42.5% | +209% | +201% | +339% | 31.1% | 0.87 | −74.4% | — | $94B | — |
| BMO Banks - DiversifiedBank of Montreal | 4/5 short1/3 long | −5.5% | −5.3% | +10.8% | +29.7% | +37.6% | +146% | +89.4% | +295% | 21.4% | 0.71 | −51.0% | — | $116B | — |
| C Banks - DiversifiedCitigroup Inc. | 2/5 short1/3 long | −9.3% | −4.3% | −7.0% | +4.8% | +26.0% | +238% | +102% | +234% | 29.4% | 0.63 | −56.5% | — | $206B | — |
| LYG Banks - RegionalLloyds Banking Group plc | 1/5 short1/3 long | −8.1% | −6.7% | −2.5% | +1.7% | +22.4% | +207% | +152% | +213% | 32.1% | 0.74 | −66.5% | — | $80B | — |
| KKR Asset ManagementKKR & Co. Inc. | 0/5 short1/3 long | −11.5% | −7.8% | −13.8% | −30.4% | −25.2% | +65.7% | +31.8% | +653% | 39.8% | 0.34 | −49.4% | — | $80B | — |
| BX Asset ManagementBlackstone Inc. | 0/5 short1/3 long | −12.7% | −9.8% | −12.8% | −28.3% | −28.4% | +28.6% | +2.1% | +628% | 39.8% | 0.21 | −49.3% | — | $127B | — |
| BCS Banks - DiversifiedBarclays PLC | 0/5 short1/3 long | −11.7% | −17.1% | −6.2% | −13.3% | +15.1% | +242% | +134% | +238% | 34.1% | 0.67 | −66.0% | — | $75B | — |
| DB Banks - RegionalDeutsche Bank AG | 0/5 short1/3 long | −17.1% | −8.6% | −1.6% | −17.0% | −3.1% | +244% | +171% | +165% | 37.4% | 0.72 | −72.7% | — | $60B | — |
| BLK Asset ManagementBlackRock, Inc. | 3/5 short0/3 long | +3.5% | +7.6% | +8.8% | +5.7% | −0.6% | +96.3% | +41.1% | +313% | 27.1% | 0.39 | −43.9% | — | $175B | — |
| BAC Banks - DiversifiedBank of America Corporation | 0/5 short0/3 long | −12.6% | −15.8% | −5.2% | −8.0% | −0.6% | +107% | +21.6% | +282% | 26.6% | 0.28 | −49.0% | — | $354B | — |
| SCHW Financial - Capital MarketsThe Charles Schwab Corporation | 0/5 short0/3 long | −15.0% | −11.1% | −1.8% | −9.6% | −3.1% | +86.2% | +19.1% | +221% | 31.9% | 0.27 | −51.1% | — | $157B | — |
How did UBS do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2001, along with where UBS ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with UBS and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
- UBS finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 12 of its 25 full calendar years.
- Among its popular alternatives, KKR came out ahead of UBS most often, in 13 of the 18 years both traded.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, UBS finished in the top quarter in five of 25 years and in the bottom quarter in six. In 2025, it ranked 10 of 25.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of UBS; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places UBS among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of UBS | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS This pageUBS Group AG | — | +57.6% | +0.7% | +69.8% | +7.4% | +29.4% | +19.5% | +7.1% | −29.9% | +17.4% | −14.4% | +18.1% | −10.2% | +23.3% | +34.3% | −28.2% | +6.2% | +8.5% | −68.9% | −21.5% | +32.5% | +18.2% | +27.9% | +50.4% | +1.7% | −8.0% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 5 of 25 | 10 of 25 | 24 of 25 | 3 of 25 | 5 of 25 | 16 of 25 | 6 of 25 | 22 of 25 | 20 of 25 | 20 of 25 | 23 of 25 | 1 of 25 | 18 of 25 | 17 of 25 | 9 of 25 | 17 of 25 | 12 of 25 | 18 of 25 | 20 of 25 | 18 of 23 | 10 of 22 | 10 of 22 | 8 of 22 | 10 of 22 | 5 of 22 | 9 of 21 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 12 of 25 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +12.0% | +1.2% | +13.5% | +32.3% | +16.0% | +1.9% | +15.1% | +26.4% | −36.8% | +5.1% | +15.9% | +4.8% | +10.7% | +28.2% | −21.6% | −11.7% |
| MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 11 of 25 | +40.0% | +39.7% | +32.7% | +26.2% | +27.9% | −13.7% | +15.8% | −31.3% | +20.7% | +2.5% | +15.2% | −14.6% | +26.0% | +33.1% | −19.9% | +13.3% | −19.1% | −32.3% | −24.2% | −8.6% | +35.4% | +31.3% | +47.6% | −16.0% | −33.1% |
| BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. | 13 of 25 | +154% | +14.2% | +62.5% | +10.0% | +22.2% | −6.4% | +10.9% | −35.0% | +31.3% | −1.5% | −19.3% | −20.6% | +39.6% | +18.2% | −10.8% | −39.7% | +53.1% | −45.6% | +4.6% | +39.4% | +4.1% | +32.9% | +47.9% | −19.3% | −13.1% |
| SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | 11 of 19 | +38.0% | +54.8% | +25.7% | +24.5% | +18.6% | −10.9% | +19.4% | −22.2% | +18.0% | +5.2% | +7.7% | −28.7% | +47.2% | +38.4% | −19.2% | +30.0% | −28.6% | −43.6% | −27.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 14 of 25 | +49.0% | +37.9% | +26.5% | −26.8% | +44.7% | +9.3% | +20.3% | −19.8% | +23.5% | +29.8% | −19.6% | +4.8% | +11.0% | +16.8% | −3.3% | +27.1% | +64.3% | −37.9% | −12.0% | +32.5% | +13.7% | +26.0% | +87.9% | −14.9% | +14.2% |
| JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 13 of 25 | +37.3% | +44.3% | +30.6% | −12.6% | +27.8% | −5.5% | +47.3% | −6.6% | +26.8% | +34.5% | +8.4% | +9.9% | +36.7% | +36.2% | −19.9% | +2.3% | +34.4% | −25.1% | −6.9% | +25.7% | +5.7% | +10.0% | +60.5% | −30.7% | −17.4% |
| SAN Banco Santander, S.A. | 13 of 25 | +165% | +14.9% | +46.4% | −6.8% | +10.2% | −19.6% | −2.2% | −28.5% | +33.3% | +12.3% | −37.9% | −0.4% | +27.4% | +22.8% | −20.2% | −30.2% | +91.8% | −52.3% | +20.2% | +47.1% | +10.5% | +6.8% | +77.6% | −11.3% | −19.8% |
| HSBC HSBC Holdings plc | 11 of 25 | +67.9% | +34.5% | +39.3% | +7.8% | +20.8% | −31.7% | +1.5% | −16.1% | +35.9% | +9.9% | −11.5% | −10.2% | +8.5% | +45.9% | −22.2% | −7.5% | +22.2% | −38.0% | −4.0% | +18.9% | −1.5% | +12.6% | +52.3% | −5.2% | −15.3% |
| MS Morgan Stanley | 11 of 25 | +45.2% | +39.7% | +13.9% | −10.3% | +46.6% | +38.1% | +32.7% | −22.8% | +26.6% | +36.1% | −16.7% | +25.0% | +65.4% | +27.6% | −43.9% | −7.5% | +88.3% | −68.8% | −22.1% | +46.3% | +4.6% | −2.0% | +48.4% | −27.0% | −28.1% |
| GS The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 12 of 25 | +56.6% | +52.0% | +15.9% | −7.9% | +47.6% | +17.4% | +40.5% | −33.5% | +7.4% | +34.9% | −5.8% | +10.8% | +40.8% | +43.4% | −45.6% | +0.5% | +103% | −60.4% | +8.6% | +57.4% | +23.9% | +6.5% | +46.3% | −26.0% | −12.8% |
| RY Royal Bank of Canada | 14 of 25 | +46.3% | +23.8% | +12.2% | −8.0% | +34.1% | +8.4% | +20.2% | −12.9% | +23.9% | +31.8% | −19.3% | +6.7% | +16.0% | +23.3% | +1.2% | +1.4% | +89.3% | −39.4% | +10.7% | +26.0% | +50.7% | +15.9% | +33.6% | +15.8% | −0.9% |
| TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank | 16 of 25 | +85.3% | −13.4% | +4.5% | −12.2% | +41.3% | +5.6% | +17.5% | −12.1% | +22.9% | +30.9% | −14.9% | +5.0% | +16.1% | +16.8% | +4.1% | +22.7% | +85.4% | −46.8% | +20.4% | +16.1% | +30.7% | +29.7% | +61.4% | −11.7% | −7.2% |
| BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia | 17 of 25 | +45.1% | +17.5% | +6.0% | −28.8% | +40.6% | +1.7% | +17.5% | −19.2% | +20.5% | +43.7% | −25.1% | −4.2% | +11.5% | +21.0% | −9.6% | +27.1% | +82.6% | −44.4% | +16.6% | +16.8% | +21.4% | +40.4% | +59.9% | +232% | +17.5% |
| BNY Bank of New York Mellon Corp | 10 of 25 | +54.4% | +51.9% | +18.5% | −19.1% | +40.6% | −12.9% | +9.6% | −10.8% | +15.7% | +17.1% | +3.3% | +18.3% | +38.6% | +32.1% | −32.8% | +9.3% | +0.9% | −40.4% | +20.0% | +26.8% | −1.2% | +4.8% | +45.2% | −38.9% | −23.4% |
| ING ING Groep N.V. | 12 of 25 | +91.3% | +12.2% | +32.0% | −4.4% | +55.4% | −21.6% | +20.6% | −39.4% | +36.7% | +11.1% | +6.4% | −7.4% | +47.6% | +32.5% | −26.8% | −0.2% | −11.7% | −69.6% | −8.2% | +31.9% | +20.8% | +36.1% | +48.7% | −31.3% | −34.4% |
| BMO Bank of Montreal | 14 of 25 | +39.6% | +3.0% | +14.6% | −12.4% | +46.9% | +3.3% | +23.9% | −14.9% | +15.4% | +32.9% | −16.8% | +10.4% | +13.7% | +17.3% | −0.3% | +13.7% | +121% | −51.9% | −0.4% | +9.4% | +20.4% | +21.0% | +62.9% | +23.0% | −9.6% |
| C Citigroup Inc. | 11 of 25 | +70.4% | +41.9% | +19.0% | −22.1% | +0.9% | −19.7% | +57.9% | −28.5% | +27.0% | +15.9% | −4.1% | +3.9% | +31.8% | +50.5% | −44.3% | +42.9% | −50.6% | −75.9% | −44.8% | +19.6% | +4.6% | +2.8% | +41.6% | −20.4% | +0.1% |
| LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc | 11 of 24 | +104% | +20.2% | +14.5% | −9.7% | +34.6% | −36.5% | +36.9% | −28.4% | +26.8% | −25.9% | −4.4% | −12.7% | +66.1% | +104% | −61.7% | +25.4% | −27.5% | −77.5% | −11.6% | +42.9% | −1.5% | +22.5% | +25.3% | −33.0% | — |
| KKR KKR & Co. Inc. | 13 of 18 | −13.3% | +79.6% | +80.5% | −37.0% | +85.8% | +41.1% | +51.5% | −4.3% | +41.8% | +3.4% | −28.0% | +4.0% | +73.8% | +25.6% | −5.3% | +70.4% | +153% | −81.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | 12 of 18 | −7.8% | +35.1% | +82.8% | −40.0% | +107% | +19.8% | +96.3% | +0.1% | +27.4% | −1.5% | −5.0% | +13.9% | +114% | +15.7% | +3.4% | +12.7% | +117% | −67.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BCS Barclays PLC | 11 of 25 | +96.5% | +76.2% | +6.0% | −21.9% | +31.6% | −12.8% | +31.9% | −29.3% | +0.5% | −12.8% | −11.4% | −14.9% | +16.1% | +61.7% | −31.9% | −4.7% | +80.0% | −73.6% | −27.2% | +44.2% | −4.0% | +31.1% | +55.0% | −23.6% | +7.7% |
| DB Deutsche Bank AG | 9 of 25 | +133% | +29.4% | +21.4% | −5.9% | +14.7% | +40.1% | −2.9% | −56.7% | +6.4% | −25.0% | −17.7% | −36.4% | +10.9% | +19.7% | −26.1% | −20.1% | +75.4% | −65.5% | −0.6% | +42.0% | +12.3% | +9.8% | +83.6% | −34.3% | −22.1% |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | 16 of 25 | +6.6% | +29.3% | +17.9% | −20.4% | +29.4% | +47.2% | +31.9% | −21.6% | +38.2% | +14.6% | −2.4% | +15.7% | +57.0% | +19.8% | −3.6% | −15.9% | +76.6% | −37.0% | +45.1% | +41.8% | +42.4% | +47.6% | +35.9% | −5.5% | −0.7% |
| BAC Bank of America Corporation | 13 of 25 | +28.0% | +33.9% | +4.9% | −23.8% | +49.6% | −11.6% | +46.1% | −15.0% | +35.7% | +33.4% | −4.8% | +15.7% | +34.5% | +109% | −58.1% | −11.2% | +7.6% | −63.1% | −18.9% | +20.8% | +2.4% | +21.5% | +20.1% | +14.6% | +42.7% |
| SCHW The Charles Schwab Corporation | 12 of 25 | +36.6% | +9.2% | −16.0% | +0.1% | +60.2% | +13.6% | +16.4% | −18.4% | +31.1% | +21.0% | +9.9% | +17.2% | +83.3% | +29.8% | −33.1% | −7.8% | +18.1% | −36.1% | +40.0% | +32.8% | +23.5% | +1.7% | +9.5% | −29.5% | −45.4% |
Risk and diversification
How UBS has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were UBS's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents UBS's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2000, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
- In four of UBS's five worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- The slowest recovery came after UBS fell 89.0% from April 2007 to March 2009; it did not regain that peak until December 2025, 17 years later.
Green means UBS fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | UBS fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 financial crisis | −89.0% | −52.7% | Apr 2007 | Mar 2009 | 23 months | Dec 2025 | 16.8 years |
| Dot-com bust | −37.9% | −40.9% | Jan 2001 | Oct 2002 | 21 months | May 2003 | 7 months |
| No named crash | −26.1% | −8.6% | Jan 2026 | Mar 2026 | 2 months | Jun 2026 | 3 months |
| No named crash | −20.1% | −5.9% | May 2006 | Jul 2006 | 2 months | Oct 2006 | 3 months |
| Dot-com bust | −19.3% | −10.4% | Aug 2000 | Oct 2000 | 2 months | Dec 2000 | 2 months |
How did UBS do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far UBS, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
Note: UBS began trading on May 16, 2000, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.
- UBS fell further than the S&P 500 in eight of the nine crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when UBS fell 87.5% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
- Among its popular alternatives, HSBC held up best, falling less than UBS in all nine crashes they both traded through.
- UBS began trading after the dot-com bust, but 20 of its popular alternatives lived through it. The mildest fall among them was RY's 21.6%, against 47.5% for the S&P 500.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than UBS.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS This pageUBS Group AG | — | −9.5% | −32.5% | −42.3% | −28.5% | −8.2% | −36.7% | −39.7% | −0.9% | −87.5% | Not yet trading |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 8 of 9 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 6 of 9 | −9.5% | −33.4% | −33.0% | −27.0% | −6.7% | −45.1% | −20.7% | −0.3% | −65.5% | −65.1% |
| BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. | 5 of 9 | −10.9% | −39.6% | −47.9% | −22.7% | −5.4% | −41.0% | −32.7% | 0.0% | −75.7% | −55.9% |
| SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | 6 of 9 | −9.2% | −24.7% | −32.2% | −23.2% | −4.5% | −44.2% | −19.8% | −2.2% | −70.9% | — |
| CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 7 of 9 | −7.0% | −36.2% | −43.6% | −22.2% | −5.9% | −25.3% | −12.9% | 0.0% | −71.8% | −39.8% |
| JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 7 of 9 | −5.4% | −37.9% | −42.5% | −21.3% | −5.6% | −22.0% | −32.1% | −0.1% | −67.7% | −74.0% |
| SAN Banco Santander, S.A. | 4 of 9 | −11.4% | −41.0% | −48.1% | −19.0% | −6.0% | −44.7% | −33.2% | −0.9% | −76.1% | −58.4% |
| HSBC HSBC Holdings plc | 9 of 9 | −7.3% | −31.8% | −20.5% | −13.1% | −4.6% | −30.8% | −25.1% | 0.0% | −73.8% | −41.4% |
| MS Morgan Stanley | 5 of 9 | −8.2% | −32.4% | −50.6% | −24.6% | −6.7% | −43.9% | −47.7% | 0.0% | −86.2% | −72.0% |
| GS The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 6 of 9 | −9.7% | −30.5% | −42.8% | −33.3% | −5.3% | −31.2% | −34.3% | 0.0% | −78.8% | −54.7% |
| RY Royal Bank of Canada | 9 of 9 | −3.8% | −26.0% | −40.0% | −17.1% | −5.7% | −23.1% | −21.8% | 0.0% | −63.1% | −21.6% |
| TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank | 9 of 9 | −6.7% | −29.0% | −41.0% | −20.9% | −5.5% | −18.1% | −19.6% | 0.0% | −63.4% | −44.1% |
| BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia | 7 of 9 | −4.6% | −35.4% | −43.0% | −17.7% | −6.1% | −24.3% | −19.8% | 0.0% | −63.8% | −23.6% |
| BNY Bank of New York Mellon Corp | 6 of 9 | −11.4% | −40.5% | −40.1% | −16.2% | −5.4% | −27.0% | −30.9% | −0.5% | −62.4% | −62.6% |
| ING ING Groep N.V. | 3 of 9 | −10.7% | −43.4% | −56.9% | −24.1% | −5.8% | −35.4% | −47.4% | −3.6% | −93.0% | −66.4% |
| BMO Bank of Montreal | 8 of 9 | −5.5% | −30.5% | −49.4% | −23.5% | −6.2% | −18.9% | −16.4% | 0.0% | −68.5% | −26.5% |
| C Citigroup Inc. | 1 of 9 | −11.7% | −39.2% | −54.8% | −33.1% | −6.7% | −40.3% | −42.6% | −1.0% | −97.7% | −52.7% |
| LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc | 4 of 9 | −7.8% | −40.5% | −53.4% | −23.3% | −4.3% | −34.6% | −41.6% | −4.5% | −94.8% | — |
| KKR KKR & Co. Inc. | 1 of 9 | −12.6% | −41.7% | −45.5% | −33.5% | −10.2% | −51.3% | −37.8% | −2.2% | −90.1% | — |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | 3 of 9 | −12.3% | −38.5% | −42.6% | −29.1% | −4.2% | −37.7% | −35.6% | −3.5% | −84.9% | — |
| BCS Barclays PLC | 2 of 9 | −10.2% | −48.1% | −57.1% | −22.9% | −4.1% | −50.6% | −44.9% | −4.8% | −93.9% | −38.4% |
| DB Deutsche Bank AG | 2 of 9 | −11.6% | −54.2% | −48.6% | −36.3% | −9.3% | −54.8% | −46.8% | 0.0% | −82.7% | −64.9% |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | 7 of 9 | −7.2% | −40.8% | −42.3% | −25.2% | −7.1% | −19.9% | −23.9% | 0.0% | −60.4% | −33.0% |
| BAC Bank of America Corporation | 2 of 9 | −12.4% | −38.7% | −47.8% | −26.4% | −6.9% | −37.8% | −45.2% | −0.6% | −93.4% | −36.3% |
| SCHW The Charles Schwab Corporation | 4 of 9 | −31.9% | −36.9% | −41.5% | −26.5% | −8.2% | −37.0% | −28.9% | −5.5% | −56.0% | −83.1% |
How closely does UBS move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares UBS with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- 12 of the 24 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than UBS's 0.97, led by MUFG, SMFG and HSBC.
- RY took just 88% of the S&P 500's losses, against 120% for UBS, while still keeping 97% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, UBS captured 116% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 120% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 1.18. It amplified the market's moves in both directions.
Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than UBS's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS This pageUBS Group AG | 116% | 120% | 0.97 | 1.18 |
| MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 84% | 42% | 2.01 | 0.66 |
| SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | 84% | 43% | 1.94 | 0.65 |
| HSBC HSBC Holdings plc | 79% | 53% | 1.49 | 0.58 |
| BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. | 121% | 97% | 1.25 | 1.11 |
| JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 117% | 103% | 1.14 | 1.09 |
| RY Royal Bank of Canada | 97% | 88% | 1.11 | 0.88 |
| SAN Banco Santander, S.A. | 101% | 92% | 1.10 | 1.02 |
| TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank | 89% | 80% | 1.10 | 0.88 |
| MS Morgan Stanley | 142% | 137% | 1.04 | 1.39 |
| CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 108% | 106% | 1.02 | 1.07 |
| GS The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 136% | 133% | 1.02 | 1.39 |
| SCHW The Charles Schwab Corporation | 89% | 90% | 0.99 | 0.91 |
| BNY Bank of New York Mellon Corp | 115% | 120% | 0.96 | 1.08 |
| BMO Bank of Montreal | 104% | 112% | 0.93 | 1.12 |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | 156% | 170% | 0.92 | 1.48 |
| KKR KKR & Co. Inc. | 171% | 191% | 0.89 | 1.62 |
| ING ING Groep N.V. | 136% | 155% | 0.88 | 1.36 |
| BAC Bank of America Corporation | 127% | 146% | 0.87 | 1.36 |
| BCS Barclays PLC | 113% | 131% | 0.86 | 1.26 |
| DB Deutsche Bank AG | 102% | 118% | 0.86 | 1.21 |
| LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc | 106% | 130% | 0.82 | 1.20 |
| BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia | 97% | 120% | 0.81 | 1.05 |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | 127% | 157% | 0.81 | 1.30 |
| C Citigroup Inc. | 131% | 165% | 0.80 | 1.49 |
What diversifies UBS?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with UBS's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing UBS with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in UBS into MCK would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 19% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+28.2% for UBS alone, +31.0% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of UBS over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.45 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- MCK made money in four of the seven calendar years in which UBS lost money.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which UBS lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% UBS and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2018 | 2016 | 2014 | 2011 | 2008 | 2007 | 2001 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS UBS Group AG (this page) | 1.00 | +210% | 0.90 | −29.9% | −14.4% | −10.2% | −28.2% | −68.9% | −21.5% | −8.0% | 31.3% | +28.2% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.45 | +119% | 1.48 | −5.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25.9% | +26.6% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.19 | +225% | 1.34 | −19.8% | +1.1% | +8.1% | −16.1% | −20.8% | −7.4% | — | 25.6% | +28.9% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.41 | +101% | 1.04 | −8.7% | +29.8% | +23.8% | — | — | — | — | 26.4% | +26.3% |
| HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF | 0.47 | +83.3% | 1.00 | −3.0% | +15.9% | +12.6% | — | — | — | — | 26.5% | +25.5% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.40 | +323% | 0.97 | −9.1% | +35.6% | +30.2% | +6.8% | −44.7% | +6.0% | −14.6% | 28.5% | +31.2% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.10 | +126% | 0.96 | −1.9% | +8.0% | −2.2% | +9.6% | +4.9% | +30.4% | — | 25.6% | +27.2% |
| SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 0.49 | +136% | 0.93 | −0.9% | +7.4% | — | — | — | — | — | 27.3% | +27.5% |
| XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.30 | +177% | 0.93 | −18.2% | +28.0% | −8.7% | +2.8% | −39.0% | +36.8% | −18.2% | 27.1% | +28.2% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2018 | 2016 | 2014 | 2011 | 2008 | 2007 | 2001 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS UBS Group AG (this page) | 1.00 | +210% | 0.90 | −29.9% | −14.4% | −10.2% | −28.2% | −68.9% | −21.5% | −8.0% | 31.3% | +28.2% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.01 | +479% | 1.55 | −24.5% | −17.5% | +23.0% | +8.1% | −39.6% | −9.8% | −2.5% | 25.6% | +31.6% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | 0.31 | +3,143% | 1.47 | −16.3% | +7.4% | +12.9% | −24.4% | −20.5% | −25.7% | −25.6% | 30.8% | +44.8% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.23 | +1,636% | 1.46 | +0.8% | +18.3% | −10.4% | −17.0% | −15.2% | +2.1% | +73.7% | 28.4% | +40.8% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | -0.03 | +413% | 1.44 | −28.4% | −28.3% | +29.3% | +11.8% | −40.4% | +29.7% | +4.9% | 25.4% | +31.0% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.23 | +690% | 1.41 | −8.2% | +0.7% | +0.4% | — | — | — | — | 27.3% | +33.5% |
Common questions
What was UBS's worst drawdown?
UBS's deepest decline since it began trading in 2000 was 89.0%, from April 2007 to March 2009. It took about 17 years from the low to climb back to its old high.
What were UBS's best and worst years?
Over 25 full calendar years, UBS's best year was 2023, when it returned 69.8%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -68.9%.
Is there a better investment than UBS?
Among UBS's popular alternatives, HSBC earned more than UBS with less volatility over the past 5 years: 33.1% a year at 25.9% volatility, against 25.4% a year at 30.4%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, MFG (banks) earned more for the risk it took than UBS over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 45.7%, against 59.8% for UBS.
Is UBS more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. UBS's volatility over the past 5 years was 30.4%, 1.8 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, UBS's return lands within 30.4% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is UBS's Sharpe ratio?
UBS's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.90, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so UBS earned more for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is UBS with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, UBS's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.60 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against UBS instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a UBS holding.
What are the best alternatives to UBS?
Of the 24 popular alternatives we compared, seven outperformed UBS in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: MUFG, BBVA and SMFG.
Did UBS outperform the S&P 500?
UBS finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 12 of 25 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +57.6%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did UBS do in stock market crashes?
UBS fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in one of the nine major crashes it has traded through, and further in eight. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when UBS fell 87.5% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
What diversifies UBS?
These had a low correlation with UBS over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.45), DXJ (correlation 0.19) and EMLP (correlation 0.41); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.01), CLS (correlation 0.31) and FIX (correlation 0.23). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than UBS's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of UBS's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.