AOTG vs. USO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

AOTG (AOT Growth and Innovation ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - AOTG is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by AOT, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. AOTG is actively managed, while USO is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, AOTG returned 28.98%/yr vs 28.78%/yr for USO. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. AOTG charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.

Performance

AOTG vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in AOT Growth and Innovation ETF (AOTG) 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, AOTG achieves a 16.15% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 97.72% return.

AOTG

• 1D: -0.51%
• 1M: 12.54%
• YTD: 16.15%
• 6M: 14.95%
• 1Y: 39.35%
• 3Y*: 28.98%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

USO

• 1D: -2.92%
• 1M: -5.15%
• YTD: 97.72%
• 6M: 91.54%
• 1Y: 97.20%
• 3Y*: 28.78%
• 5Y*: 23.67%
• 10Y*: 3.57%

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

AOTG vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
AOTG AOT Growth and Innovation ETF	16.15%	25.26%	32.20%	54.58%	-11.53%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	97.72%	-8.46%	13.35%	-4.94%	-15.48%

Correlation

The correlation between AOTG and USO is -0.26, 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	-0.26
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.06
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 30, 2022	0.03

The correlation between AOTG and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.26 (1 year) to 0.03 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

AOTG vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

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

AOTG

AOTG Risk / Return Rank: 42
AOTG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 49
AOTG Sortino Ratio Rank: 45
AOTG Omega Ratio Rank: 46
AOTG Calmar Ratio Rank: 36
AOTG Martin Ratio Rank: 34

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 66
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 62
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
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.

AOTG vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for AOT Growth and Innovation ETF (AOTG) 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.

	AOTG	USO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.65	2.21	-0.55
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.20	2.80	-0.60
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.29	1.37	-0.08
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.73	4.79	-3.06
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.98	9.00	-4.02
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AOTG vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AOTG Sharpe Ratio is 1.65, which is comparable to the USO Sharpe Ratio of 2.21. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AOTG 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

	AOTG	USO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.65	2.21	-0.55
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.66	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.09	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.96	-0.18	+1.14

Drawdowns

AOTG vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AOTG drawdown since its inception was -31.63%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AOTG and USO.

Drawdown Indicators

	AOTG	USO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-31.63%	-98.19%	+66.56%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-22.85%	-20.39%	-2.46%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-27.41%	-26.05%	-1.36%
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	-2.81%	-85.45%	+82.64%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.89%	-75.30%	+67.41%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	7.93%	10.84%	-2.91%

Volatility

AOTG vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for AOT Growth and Innovation ETF (AOTG) is 7.56%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.97%. This indicates that AOTG 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

	AOTG	USO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.56%	14.97%	-7.41%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.77%	38.35%	-19.58%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	23.89%	44.32%	-20.43%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	29.26%	36.09%	-6.83%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	29.26%	39.00%	-9.74%

AOTG vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison

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

Dividends

AOTG vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

Neither AOTG nor USO has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AOTG and USO in my portfolio?

AOTG and USO 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, AOTG or USO?

USO has higher volatility (14.97%) compared to AOTG (7.56%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AOTG dropped -31.63% vs USO's -98.19%.

Which ETF is better, AOTG or USO?

On 3-year performance, AOTG leads with 28.98% vs 28.78% for USO. On fees, AOTG is cheaper at 0.75% per year. On volatility, AOTG has been the lower-risk option at 7.56%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, AOTG or USO?

Over the 3-year period, AOTG has performed better with a 28.98% return vs 28.78%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, AOTG or USO?

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

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

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

What is the main difference between AOTG and USO?

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

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

USO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.21 vs 1.65), 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.