LFEQ vs PTMC

LFEQBVanEck Long/Flat Trend ETF

PTMCAPacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF

In short

LFEQ Trend following in an ETF wrapper: LFEQ tracks a Ned Davis Research index that uses daily signals to shift between US large-cap stocks and Treasury bills, trimming equity when the tape weakens. Live since 2017, priced below its peer median.

PTMC A mid-cap index fund with a seatbelt built in. PTMC tracks a rules-based trend index that shifts the portfolio between roughly 400 US mid-cap stocks and defensive positioning, with no manager judgment in the loop. Running since 2015.

Stated mandate

LFEQ The fund seeks to track the price and yield performance of the Ned Davis Research CMG US Large Cap Long/Flat Index. The index uses daily signals to vary exposure between U.S. equities and Treasury bills, seeking participation in advances while limiting losses in declines.

PTMC The Fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap Index.

Why people hold it

• LFEQ 0.58% a year, against a median near 0.95% for tactical multi-asset funds. Rules-based risk management usually costs more than this.
• The de-risking is mechanical, not discretionary: daily index signals move exposure between US equities and T-bills. No manager's gut call on when to step aside.
• Trading since 2017, so the signal has run through live markets and real drawdowns rather than a backtest.

• PTMC The trend rules do the deciding, not a portfolio manager's gut: the index itself dictates when to hold mid-cap equities and when to shift defensive.paceretfs.com
• Under the overlay sits a plain, broad basket of roughly 400 US mid caps, not a handful of concentrated picks.
• Live since 2015, so the signal has run through real market drawdowns and recoveries rather than a backtest.

Worth knowing

• LFEQ Trend rules follow price, not forecasts. A sharp V-shaped rebound can get underway while the index is still sitting in Treasury bills.
• It stays a small, thinly traded fund, which typically means wider bid-ask spreads than a mainstream large-cap index ETF.
• Cheaper than tactical peers TUGN (0.65%) and PWS (0.60%), though ENDW (0.22%) and ONOF (0.39%) run leaner.

• PTMC The 0.60% fee buys the rules, not more stocks. Plain index wrappers in the same peer group, like VXF at 0.05%, simply hold the market and skip the overlay.
• Trend systems move on sustained direction, so a sharp drop and fast snapback can whipsaw the signal in both directions.paceretfs.com
• It trades lightly next to vanilla mid-cap index funds, which tends to mean wider bid-ask spreads at the moment of the trade.

Full LFEQ profile⁠

Full PTMC profile⁠