AAUS vs. BOXA

Last updated Aug 1, 2026

AAUS (Alpha Architect US Equity ETF) and BOXA (Alpha Architect Aggregate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AAUS is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Alpha Architect, while BOXA is a Intermediate Core Bond fund actively managed by Alpha Architect. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, AAUS returned 22.31% vs 1.19% for BOXA. Their 0.25 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. AAUS charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.23%/yr for BOXA.

Performance

AAUS vs. BOXA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) and Alpha Architect Aggregate Bond ETF (BOXA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AAUS achieves a 8.78% return, which is significantly higher than BOXA's -0.62% return.

AAUS

• 1D: 0.96%
• 1M: 0.39%
• 6M: 7.72%
• YTD: 8.78%
• 1Y: 22.31%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 19.32%

BOXA

• 1D: 0.02%
• 1M: -0.81%
• 6M: -0.94%
• YTD: -0.62%
• 1Y: 1.19%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 2.94%

*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)
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	$2.43M	$1.38M	$531.78K
BOXA Alpha Architect Aggregate Bond ETF	$139.10K	$103.01K	$89.32K

AAUS vs. BOXA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	8.78%	10.11%
BOXA Alpha Architect Aggregate Bond ETF	-0.62%	2.61%

Correlation

The correlation between AAUS and BOXA is 0.26, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.26
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2025	0.25

Return for Risk

AAUS vs. BOXA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

AAUS

AAUS Risk / Return Rank: 66
AAUS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
AAUS Sortino Ratio Rank: 64
AAUS Omega Ratio Rank: 63
AAUS Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
AAUS Martin Ratio Rank: 72

BOXA

BOXA Risk / Return Rank: 22
BOXA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 24
BOXA Sortino Ratio Rank: 22
BOXA Omega Ratio Rank: 21
BOXA Calmar Ratio Rank: 22
BOXA Martin Ratio Rank: 22

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

AAUS vs. BOXA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) and Alpha Architect Aggregate Bond ETF (BOXA). 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.

	AAUS	BOXA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.53	0.54	+1.00
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.14	0.78	+1.36
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.27	1.09	+0.18
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.16	0.61	+1.55
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.93	1.52	+7.40

AAUS vs. BOXA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AAUS Sharpe Ratio is 1.53, which is higher than the BOXA Sharpe Ratio of 0.54. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AAUS and BOXA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

AAUS vs. BOXA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AAUS drawdown since its inception was -9.13%, which is greater than BOXA's maximum drawdown of -3.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAUS and BOXA.

Drawdown Indicators

	AAUS	BOXA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-9.13%	-3.22%	-5.91%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.13%	-3.22%	-5.91%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.38%	-2.46%	+1.08%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.43%	-0.87%	-0.56%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.21%	1.30%	+0.91%

Volatility

AAUS vs. BOXA - Volatility Comparison

Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) has a higher volatility of 3.54% compared to Alpha Architect Aggregate Bond ETF (BOXA) at 1.18%. This indicates that AAUS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BOXA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	AAUS	BOXA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.54%	1.18%	+2.36%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.80%	2.91%	+6.89%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.90%	3.69%	+9.21%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.77%	4.13%	+8.64%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	12.77%	4.13%	+8.64%

AAUS vs. BOXA - Expense Ratio Comparison

AAUS has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than BOXA's 0.23% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

AAUS vs. BOXA - Dividend Comparison

AAUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.34%, more than BOXA's 0.13% yield.

Position	TTM	2025
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	0.34%	0.37%
BOXA Alpha Architect Aggregate Bond ETF	0.13%	0.13%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AAUS and BOXA in my portfolio?

AAUS and BOXA have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, AAUS or BOXA?

AAUS has higher volatility (3.54%) compared to BOXA (1.18%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AAUS dropped -9.13% vs BOXA's -3.22%.

Which ETF is better, AAUS or BOXA?

On 1-year performance, AAUS leads with 22.31% vs 1.19% for BOXA. On fees, AAUS is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, BOXA has been the lower-risk option at 1.18%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, AAUS or BOXA?

Over the 1-year period, AAUS has performed better with a 22.31% return vs 1.19%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, AAUS or BOXA?

AAUS is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.23% for BOXA.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, AAUS or BOXA?

AAUS has the higher dividend yield at 0.34%, compared with 0.13% for BOXA.

What is the main difference between AAUS and BOXA?

AAUS is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while BOXA is Intermediate Core Bond. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for AAUS and 0.23% for BOXA.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

AAUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.53 vs 0.54), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.