ALIL vs. USL

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

ALIL (Argent Focused Small Cap ETF) and USL (United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - ALIL is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Argent, while USL is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the 12 Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. ALIL is actively managed, while USL is passively managed. Over the past year, ALIL returned 16.19% vs 26.14% for USL. At a correlation of -0.17, they often move in opposite directions. ALIL charges 0.74%/yr vs 0.88%/yr for USL.

Performance

ALIL vs. USL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Argent Focused Small Cap ETF (ALIL) and United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ALIL achieves a 11.27% return, which is significantly lower than USL's 39.93% return.

ALIL

• 1D: -1.86%
• 1M: 5.55%
• YTD: 11.27%
• 6M: 8.99%
• 1Y: 16.19%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

USL

• 1D: -0.53%
• 1M: -13.39%
• YTD: 39.93%
• 6M: 37.90%
• 1Y: 26.14%
• 3Y*: 13.28%
• 5Y*: 12.73%
• 10Y*: 9.43%

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

ALIL vs. USL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
ALIL Argent Focused Small Cap ETF	11.27%	16.27%
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP	39.93%	3.91%

Correlation

The correlation between ALIL and USL is -0.22, 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	-0.22
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 9, 2025	-0.17

Return for Risk

ALIL vs. USL — Risk / Return Rank

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

ALIL

ALIL Risk / Return Rank: 27
ALIL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 26
ALIL Sortino Ratio Rank: 27
ALIL Omega Ratio Rank: 23
ALIL Calmar Ratio Rank: 28
ALIL Martin Ratio Rank: 29

USL

USL Risk / Return Rank: 27
USL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 27
USL Sortino Ratio Rank: 26
USL Omega Ratio Rank: 26
USL Calmar Ratio Rank: 31
USL Martin Ratio Rank: 27

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.

ALIL vs. USL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Argent Focused Small Cap ETF (ALIL) and United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL). 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.

	ALIL	USL	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.85	0.92	-0.07
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.38	1.38	0.00
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.15	1.17	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.29	1.50	-0.21
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.77	3.41	+0.35

ALIL vs. USL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ALIL Sharpe Ratio is 0.85, which is comparable to the USL Sharpe Ratio of 0.92. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ALIL and USL, 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

ALIL vs. USL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ALIL drawdown since its inception was -12.60%, smaller than the maximum USL drawdown of -89.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ALIL and USL.

Drawdown Indicators

	ALIL	USL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-12.60%	-89.06%	+76.46%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.60%	-17.53%	+4.93%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-23.33%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-33.82%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-66.02%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.86%	-46.93%	+45.07%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.07%	-61.39%	+58.32%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.31%	7.72%	-3.41%

Volatility

ALIL vs. USL - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Argent Focused Small Cap ETF (ALIL) is 6.72%, while United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL) has a volatility of 8.21%. This indicates that ALIL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ALIL	USL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.72%	8.21%	-1.49%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.16%	24.20%	-10.04%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.10%	28.90%	-9.80%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.79%	30.24%	-9.45%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.79%	32.33%	-11.54%

ALIL vs. USL - Expense Ratio Comparison

ALIL has a 0.74% expense ratio, which is lower than USL's 0.88% expense ratio.

Dividends

ALIL vs. USL - Dividend Comparison

ALIL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.42%, while USL has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025
ALIL Argent Focused Small Cap ETF	0.42%	0.47%
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ALIL and USL in my portfolio?

ALIL and USL have a correlation of -0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ALIL or USL?

USL has higher volatility (8.21%) compared to ALIL (6.72%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ALIL dropped -12.60% vs USL's -89.06%.

Which ETF is better, ALIL or USL?

On 1-year performance, USL leads with 26.14% vs 16.19% for ALIL. On fees, ALIL is cheaper at 0.74% per year. On volatility, ALIL has been the lower-risk option at 6.72%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, ALIL or USL?

Over the 1-year period, USL has performed better with a 26.14% return vs 16.19%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, ALIL or USL?

ALIL is cheaper with a 0.74% expense ratio, compared with 0.88% for USL.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, ALIL or USL?

ALIL has the higher dividend yield at 0.42%, compared with 0.00% for USL.

What is the main difference between ALIL and USL?

ALIL is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while USL is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Argent and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.74% for ALIL and 0.88% for USL.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

USL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.92 vs 0.85), 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.