AAUB vs. CAOS

Last updated Jul 29, 2026

AAUB (Alpha Architect U.S. Equity 4 ETF) and CAOS (Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AAUB is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Alpha Architect, while CAOS is a Options Trading fund actively managed by Alpha Architect. Both are actively managed. Their correlation of 0.80 means they have usually moved in the same direction. AAUB charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.63%/yr for CAOS.

Performance

AAUB vs. CAOS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Alpha Architect U.S. Equity 4 ETF (AAUB) and Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

AAUB

• 1D: -0.18%
• 1M: —
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: —

CAOS

• 1D: -0.06%
• 1M: 0.06%
• 6M: 0.24%
• YTD: 0.82%
• 1Y: 1.90%
• 3Y*: 3.49%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 4.73%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
AAUB Alpha Architect U.S. Equity 4 ETF	$149.14K	$149.14K	$149.14K
CAOS Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF	$4.12M	$3.73M	$4.60M

AAUB vs. CAOS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
AAUB Alpha Architect U.S. Equity 4 ETF	-0.65%
CAOS Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF	0.00%

Correlation

The correlation between AAUB and CAOS is 0.80, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2026	0.80

Return for Risk

AAUB vs. CAOS — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

AAUB

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

CAOS

CAOS Risk / Return Rank: 56
CAOS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 50
CAOS Sortino Ratio Rank: 56
CAOS Omega Ratio Rank: 56
CAOS Calmar Ratio Rank: 71
CAOS Martin Ratio Rank: 49

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

AAUB vs. CAOS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Alpha Architect U.S. Equity 4 ETF (AAUB) and Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS). 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.

	AAUB	CAOS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	1.21	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	1.93	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.24	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	2.51	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	5.59	—

Drawdowns

AAUB vs. CAOS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AAUB drawdown since its inception was -0.67%, smaller than the maximum CAOS drawdown of -3.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAUB and CAOS.

Drawdown Indicators

	AAUB	CAOS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.67%	-3.89%	+3.22%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-0.76%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-3.60%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.67%	-1.07%	+0.40%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.38%	-0.92%	+0.54%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	0.34%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	AAUB	CAOS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	0.55%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	1.08%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.04%	1.57%	+2.47%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.04%	4.18%	-0.14%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	4.04%	4.18%	-0.14%

AAUB vs. CAOS - Expense Ratio Comparison

AAUB has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than CAOS's 0.63% expense ratio.

Dividends

AAUB vs. CAOS - Dividend Comparison

Neither AAUB nor CAOS has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AAUB and CAOS in my portfolio?

AAUB and CAOS have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, AAUB or CAOS?

On fees, AAUB is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, AAUB or CAOS?

AAUB is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.63% for CAOS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, AAUB or CAOS?

AAUB and CAOS have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between AAUB and CAOS?

AAUB is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while CAOS is Options Trading. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for AAUB and 0.63% for CAOS.