Volatility & Variance: Reading the Risk Fingerprint
SPMO.US (Invesco S&P 500® Momentum ETF) carries an annualised volatility of 17.4%, categorised as moderate relative to the long-run US equity benchmark of approximately 15%. MTUM.US (iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF) registers at 17.4%, a moderate reading by the same standard.
SPMO.US and MTUM.US carry virtually identical annualised volatility — both within a fraction of a percentage point of each other — making the risk profile of either fund essentially interchangeable on this dimension.
On the downside, SPMO.US's maximum peak-to-trough drawdown of 21.3% represents a severe bear-market drawdown over the study period. MTUM.US's worst drawdown of 30.2% was a severe bear-market drawdown. SPMO.US demonstrated stronger capital preservation during the period's worst stress events, which is particularly relevant for US investors approaching retirement or drawing down a portfolio.
When evaluating these two funds for a US-domiciled portfolio, it is important to consider that volatility and drawdown metrics are calculated on trailing historical data. Past standard deviations do not guarantee future behaviour, particularly around US Federal Reserve policy shifts, which have historically been the primary driver of cross-asset correlation breakdowns.