AVSE vs. USO
AVSE (Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - AVSE is a Emerging Markets Diversified fund tracking the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, AVSE returned 25.55%/yr vs 29.98%/yr for USO. At a 0.08 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. AVSE charges 0.33%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.
Performance
AVSE vs. USO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AVSE achieves a 26.92% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 103.67% return.
AVSE
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- 9.75%
- YTD
- 26.92%
- 6M
- 28.98%
- 1Y
- 52.22%
- 3Y*
- 25.55%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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%
AVSE vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVSE Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 26.92% | 32.54% | 8.29% | 16.01% | -13.85% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 103.67% | -8.46% | 13.35% | -4.94% | -10.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between AVSE and USO 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 (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 31, 2022 | 0.08 |
The correlation between AVSE and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.35 (1 year) to 0.08 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
AVSE vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank
AVSE
USO
AVSE vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVSE) 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.
| AVSE | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.38 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.48 | 1.38 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.70 | 5.01 | -1.30 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.74 | 9.42 | +5.32 |
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
| AVSE | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.69 | 2.31 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.68 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.10 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.86 | -0.18 | +1.04 |
Drawdowns
AVSE vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AVSE drawdown since its inception was -26.28%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVSE and USO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AVSE | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.28% | -98.19% | +71.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.17% | -20.39% | +6.22% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.68% | -26.05% | +8.37% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -36.23% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -86.75% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.45% | -85.01% | +83.56% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.82% | -75.30% | +68.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.55% | 10.82% | -7.27% |
Volatility
AVSE vs. USO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVSE) is 8.65%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.87%. This indicates that AVSE 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
| AVSE | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.65% | 14.87% | -6.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.79% | 38.23% | -21.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.53% | 44.20% | -24.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.03% | 36.06% | -18.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.03% | 39.00% | -20.97% |
AVSE vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison
AVSE has a 0.33% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.
Dividends
AVSE vs. USO - Dividend Comparison
AVSE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.18%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVSE Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 2.18% | 2.68% | 3.03% | 3.20% | 1.27% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AVSE and USO 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.
USO has higher volatility (14.87%) compared to AVSE (8.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AVSE dropped -26.28% vs USO's -98.19%.
On 3-year performance, USO leads with 29.98% vs 25.55% for AVSE. On fees, AVSE is cheaper at 0.33% per year. On volatility, AVSE has been the lower-risk option at 8.65%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, USO has performed better with a 29.98% return vs 25.55%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
AVSE is cheaper with a 0.33% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.
AVSE has the higher dividend yield at 2.18%, compared with 0.00% for USO.
AVSE is categorized as Emerging Markets Diversified, while USO is Oil & Gas. AVSE tracks MSCI Emerging Markets Index, while USO tracks Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.33% for AVSE and 0.86% for USO.
AVSE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.69 vs 2.31), 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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