ARKD vs. USL

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ARKD (ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF) and USL (United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - ARKD is a Cryptocurrency fund actively managed by ARK, while USL is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the 12 Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. ARKD is actively managed, while USL is passively managed. At a correlation of -0.34, they often move in opposite directions. ARKD charges 0.90%/yr vs 0.88%/yr for USL.

Performance

ARKD vs. USL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF (ARKD) and United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

ARKD

• 1D: -1.44%
• 1M: -0.46%
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

USL

• 1D: 1.55%
• 1M: -1.61%
• YTD: 63.07%
• 6M: 59.66%
• 1Y: 57.86%
• 3Y*: 18.42%
• 5Y*: 17.41%
• 10Y*: 10.91%

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

ARKD vs. USL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
ARKD ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF	-2.04%
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP	63.42%

Correlation

The correlation between ARKD and USL is -0.34, 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 (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 5, 2026	-0.34

Return for Risk

ARKD vs. USL — Risk / Return Rank

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

USL

USL Risk / Return Rank: 56
USL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 59
USL Sortino Ratio Rank: 53
USL Omega Ratio Rank: 54
USL Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
USL Martin Ratio Rank: 43

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.

ARKD vs. USL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF (ARKD) 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.

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ARKD	USL	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	2.04	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.58	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.34	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	-0.25	0.01	-0.26

Drawdowns

ARKD vs. USL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ARKD drawdown since its inception was -14.03%, smaller than the maximum USL drawdown of -89.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARKD and USL.

Drawdown Indicators

	ARKD	USL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.03%	-89.06%	+75.03%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-16.76%	—
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	-4.51%	-38.16%	+33.65%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.21%	-61.46%	+55.25%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	8.27%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	ARKD	USL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	10.53%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	23.33%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.81%	28.54%	-8.73%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.81%	30.08%	-10.27%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.81%	32.35%	-12.54%

ARKD vs. USL - Expense Ratio Comparison

ARKD has a 0.90% expense ratio, which is higher than USL's 0.88% expense ratio.

Dividends

ARKD vs. USL - Dividend Comparison

Neither ARKD nor USL has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ARKD and USL in my portfolio?

ARKD and USL have a correlation of -0.34, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, ARKD or USL?

On fees, USL is cheaper at 0.88% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ARKD or USL?

USL is cheaper with a 0.88% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for ARKD.

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

ARKD and USL have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between ARKD and USL?

ARKD is categorized as Cryptocurrency, while USL is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: ARK and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.90% for ARKD and 0.88% for USL.