AJUL vs. CAOS

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

AJUL (Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr To July 2026) and CAOS (Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF) are both Options Trading funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, AJUL returned 9.05% vs 1.88% for CAOS. At a correlation of -0.29, they often move in opposite directions. AJUL charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.63%/yr for CAOS.

Performance

AJUL vs. CAOS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr To July 2026 (AJUL) and Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AJUL achieves a 3.08% return, which is significantly higher than CAOS's 0.82% return.

AJUL

• 1D: 0.05%
• 1M: 0.69%
• YTD: 3.08%
• 6M: 3.74%
• 1Y: 9.05%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

CAOS

• 1D: 0.12%
• 1M: -0.09%
• YTD: 0.82%
• 6M: 0.69%
• 1Y: 1.88%
• 3Y*: 4.26%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

AJUL vs. CAOS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
AJUL Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr To July 2026	3.08%	7.63%	4.51%
CAOS Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF	0.82%	2.55%	3.07%

Correlation

The correlation between AJUL and CAOS is -0.35, 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	-0.35
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 2, 2024	-0.29

Return for Risk

AJUL vs. CAOS — Risk / Return Rank

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

AJUL

AJUL Risk / Return Rank: 89
AJUL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 86
AJUL Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
AJUL Omega Ratio Rank: 93
AJUL Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
AJUL Martin Ratio Rank: 93

CAOS

CAOS Risk / Return Rank: 40
CAOS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 34
CAOS Sortino Ratio Rank: 37
CAOS Omega Ratio Rank: 39
CAOS Calmar Ratio Rank: 49
CAOS Martin Ratio Rank: 39

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.

AJUL vs. CAOS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr To July 2026 (AJUL) 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.

	AJUL	CAOS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.84	1.24	+1.60
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.54	1.98	+2.57
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.64	1.26	+0.39
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.15	2.49	+1.66
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	24.50	6.22	+18.28
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AJUL vs. CAOS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AJUL Sharpe Ratio is 2.84, which is higher than the CAOS Sharpe Ratio of 1.24. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AJUL and CAOS, 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

	AJUL	CAOS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.84	1.24	+1.60
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.61	1.21	+0.40

Drawdowns

AJUL vs. CAOS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AJUL drawdown since its inception was -6.06%, which is greater than CAOS's maximum drawdown of -3.60%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AJUL and CAOS.

Drawdown Indicators

	AJUL	CAOS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-6.06%	-3.60%	-2.46%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.19%	-0.76%	-1.43%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-3.60%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-1.07%	+1.07%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.51%	-0.90%	+0.39%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.37%	0.30%	+0.07%

Volatility

AJUL vs. CAOS - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr To July 2026 (AJUL) is 0.17%, while Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS) has a volatility of 0.26%. This indicates that AJUL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CAOS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	AJUL	CAOS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.17%	0.26%	-0.09%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.50%	1.03%	+1.47%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.20%	1.52%	+1.68%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	5.00%	4.26%	+0.74%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.00%	4.26%	+0.74%

AJUL vs. CAOS - Expense Ratio Comparison

AJUL has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than CAOS's 0.63% expense ratio.

Dividends

AJUL vs. CAOS - Dividend Comparison

Neither AJUL nor CAOS has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AJUL and CAOS in my portfolio?

AJUL and CAOS have a correlation of -0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, AJUL or CAOS?

CAOS has higher volatility (0.26%) compared to AJUL (0.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AJUL dropped -6.06% vs CAOS's -3.60%.

Which ETF is better, AJUL or CAOS?

On 1-year performance, AJUL leads with 9.05% vs 1.88% for CAOS. On fees, CAOS is cheaper at 0.63% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, AJUL or CAOS?

Over the 1-year period, AJUL has performed better with a 9.05% return vs 1.88%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, AJUL or CAOS?

CAOS is cheaper with a 0.63% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for AJUL.

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

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

What is the main difference between AJUL and CAOS?

They also come from different issuers: Innovator and Alpha Architect. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for AJUL and 0.63% for CAOS.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

AJUL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.84 vs 1.24), 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.