AIFD vs. USO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

AIFD (TCW Artificial Intelligence ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - AIFD is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by TCW, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. AIFD is actively managed, while USO is passively managed. Over the past year, AIFD returned 98.66% vs 101.55% for USO. At a correlation of -0.03, they often move in opposite directions. AIFD charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.

Performance

AIFD vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in TCW Artificial Intelligence ETF (AIFD) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AIFD achieves a 49.97% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 103.67% return.

AIFD

• 1D: -1.63%
• 1M: 17.54%
• YTD: 49.97%
• 6M: 50.25%
• 1Y: 98.66%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

USO

• 1D: 2.62%
• 1M: -4.57%
• YTD: 103.67%
• 6M: 99.35%
• 1Y: 101.55%
• 3Y*: 29.98%
• 5Y*: 24.41%
• 10Y*: 4.07%

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

AIFD vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
AIFD TCW Artificial Intelligence ETF	49.97%	28.30%	14.65%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	103.67%	-8.46%	-0.15%

Correlation

The correlation between AIFD and USO is -0.23, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.23
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 7, 2024	-0.03

Over the past year, the inverse relationship between AIFD and USO has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.03 to -0.23, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.

Return for Risk

AIFD vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

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

AIFD

AIFD Risk / Return Rank: 93
AIFD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
AIFD Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
AIFD Omega Ratio Rank: 90
AIFD Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
AIFD Martin Ratio Rank: 96

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 66
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 61
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 87
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 54

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.

AIFD vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TCW Artificial Intelligence ETF (AIFD) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO). 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.

	AIFD	USO	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	3.89	2.31	+1.58
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	4.36	2.89	+1.46
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.58	1.38	+0.20
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	8.44	5.01	+3.44
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	35.74	9.42	+26.32
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AIFD vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AIFD Sharpe Ratio is 3.89, which is higher than the USO Sharpe Ratio of 2.31. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AIFD and USO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	AIFD	USO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.89	2.31	+1.58
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.68	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.10	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.59	-0.18	+1.77

Drawdowns

AIFD vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AIFD drawdown since its inception was -33.20%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AIFD and USO.

Drawdown Indicators

	AIFD	USO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.20%	-98.19%	+64.99%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.75%	-20.39%	+8.64%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-26.05%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-36.23%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-86.75%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.63%	-85.01%	+83.38%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.73%	-75.30%	+69.57%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.77%	10.82%	-8.05%

Volatility

AIFD vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for TCW Artificial Intelligence ETF (AIFD) is 9.02%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.87%. This indicates that AIFD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	AIFD	USO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.02%	14.87%	-5.85%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	19.84%	38.23%	-18.39%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	25.54%	44.20%	-18.66%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	29.34%	36.06%	-6.72%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	29.34%	39.00%	-9.66%

AIFD vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison

AIFD has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.

Dividends

AIFD vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

Neither AIFD nor USO has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AIFD and USO in my portfolio?

AIFD and USO have a correlation of -0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, AIFD or USO?

USO has higher volatility (14.87%) compared to AIFD (9.02%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AIFD dropped -33.20% vs USO's -98.19%.

Which ETF is better, AIFD or USO?

On 1-year performance, USO leads with 101.55% vs 98.66% for AIFD. On fees, AIFD is cheaper at 0.75% per year. On volatility, AIFD has been the lower-risk option at 9.02%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, AIFD or USO?

Over the 1-year period, USO has performed better with a 101.55% return vs 98.66%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, AIFD or USO?

AIFD is cheaper with a 0.75% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, AIFD or USO?

AIFD and USO have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between AIFD and USO?

AIFD is categorized as Technology Equities, while USO is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: TCW and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for AIFD and 0.86% for USO.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

AIFD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.89 vs 2.31), 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.