ARKG vs. USO
ARKG (ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - ARKG is a Health & Biotech Equities fund actively managed by ARK, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. ARKG is actively managed, while USO is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ARKG returned 7.22%/yr vs 4.07%/yr for USO. At a 0.08 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ARKG charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.
Performance
ARKG vs. USO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ARKG achieves a 17.09% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 103.67% return. Over the past 10 years, ARKG has outperformed USO with an annualized return of 7.22%, while USO has yielded a comparatively lower 4.07% annualized return.
ARKG
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- 10.92%
- YTD
- 17.09%
- 6M
- 10.02%
- 1Y
- 53.35%
- 3Y*
- 0.67%
- 5Y*
- -15.72%
- 10Y*
- 7.22%
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%
ARKG vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARKG ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector ETF | 17.09% | 23.04% | -28.24% | 16.22% | -53.90% | -33.92% | 180.40% | 44.00% | -1.26% | 46.61% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 103.67% | -8.46% | 13.35% | -4.94% | 28.97% | 64.68% | -67.79% | 32.61% | -19.57% | 2.47% |
Correlation
The correlation between ARKG 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 (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.00 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 3, 2014 | 0.08 |
The correlation between ARKG and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.26 (1 year) to 0.08 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ARKG vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank
ARKG
USO
ARKG vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector ETF (ARKG) 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.
| ARKG | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.00 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.90 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.38 | -0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.95 | 5.01 | -3.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.67 | 9.42 | -4.75 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ARKG | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.31 | 2.31 | -1.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.35 | 0.68 | -1.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 | 0.10 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.13 | -0.18 | +0.31 |
Drawdowns
ARKG vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ARKG drawdown since its inception was -83.59%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARKG and USO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ARKG | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -83.59% | -98.19% | +14.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -27.51% | -20.39% | -7.12% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -51.96% | -26.05% | -25.91% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -80.18% | -36.23% | -43.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -83.59% | -86.75% | +3.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -69.65% | -85.01% | +15.36% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -35.87% | -75.30% | +39.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.46% | 10.82% | +0.64% |
Volatility
ARKG vs. USO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector ETF (ARKG) is 11.90%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.87%. This indicates that ARKG 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.
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Volatility by Period
| ARKG | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.90% | 14.87% | -2.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 28.77% | 38.23% | -9.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 41.12% | 44.20% | -3.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 45.61% | 36.06% | +9.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 41.12% | 39.00% | +2.12% |
ARKG vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison
ARKG has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.
Dividends
ARKG vs. USO - Dividend Comparison
Neither ARKG nor USO has paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARKG ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.62% | 0.85% | 3.14% | 0.82% | 1.34% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ARKG 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.
USO has higher volatility (14.87%) compared to ARKG (11.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ARKG dropped -83.59% vs USO's -98.19%.
On 10-year performance, ARKG leads with 7.22% vs 4.07% for USO. On fees, ARKG is cheaper at 0.75% per year. On volatility, ARKG has been the lower-risk option at 11.90%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, ARKG has performed better with a 7.22% return vs 4.07%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ARKG is cheaper with a 0.75% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.
ARKG and USO have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
ARKG is categorized as Health & Biotech Equities, while USO is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: ARK and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for ARKG and 0.86% for USO.
USO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.31 vs 1.31), 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.
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