AVSU vs. USL

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

AVSU (Avantis Responsible U.S. Equity ETF) and USL (United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - AVSU is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 3000 Index, while USL is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the 12 Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, AVSU returned 22.19%/yr vs 18.42%/yr for USL. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. AVSU charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.88%/yr for USL.

Performance

AVSU vs. USL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Avantis Responsible U.S. Equity ETF (AVSU) 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, AVSU achieves a 14.85% return, which is significantly lower than USL's 63.07% return.

AVSU

• 1D: -0.43%
• 1M: 6.75%
• YTD: 14.85%
• 6M: 15.47%
• 1Y: 33.58%
• 3Y*: 22.19%
• 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)

AVSU vs. USL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
AVSU Avantis Responsible U.S. Equity ETF	14.85%	16.69%	19.16%	24.50%	-11.70%
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP	63.07%	-12.37%	8.30%	-1.11%	-2.79%

Correlation

The correlation between AVSU and USL is -0.32, 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	-0.32
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.06
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 18, 2022	0.06

The correlation between AVSU and USL shifts across timeframes, from -0.32 (1 year) to 0.06 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

AVSU vs. USL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	AVSU	USL
Technology	33.2%	-
Financial Services	18.6%	4.5%
Consumer Cyclical	13.1%	-
Communication Services	11.0%	-
Healthcare	8.9%	-
Industrials	8.6%	-
Consumer Defensive	5.0%	-
Basic Materials	1.1%	-
Real Estate	0.3%	-
Utilities	0.3%	-
Energy	0.0%	-

Return for Risk

AVSU vs. USL — Risk / Return Rank

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

AVSU

AVSU Risk / Return Rank: 75
AVSU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 77
AVSU Sortino Ratio Rank: 79
AVSU Omega Ratio Rank: 75
AVSU Calmar Ratio Rank: 68
AVSU Martin Ratio Rank: 78

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.

AVSU vs. USL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis Responsible U.S. Equity ETF (AVSU) 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.

	AVSU	USL	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.52	2.04	+0.49
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.54	2.58	+0.96
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.45	1.34	+0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.35	3.47	-0.11
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.23	7.02	+8.21
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AVSU vs. USL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AVSU Sharpe Ratio is 2.52, which is comparable to the USL Sharpe Ratio of 2.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AVSU 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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	AVSU	USL	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.52	2.04	+0.49
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	0.80	0.01	+0.80

Drawdowns

AVSU vs. USL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AVSU drawdown since its inception was -21.67%, smaller than the maximum USL drawdown of -89.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVSU and USL.

Drawdown Indicators

	AVSU	USL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-21.67%	-89.06%	+67.39%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.06%	-16.76%	+6.70%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.16%	-23.33%	+3.17%
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	-0.43%	-38.16%	+37.73%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.47%	-61.46%	+55.99%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.21%	8.27%	-6.06%

Volatility

AVSU vs. USL - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Avantis Responsible U.S. Equity ETF (AVSU) is 3.87%, while United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL) has a volatility of 10.53%. This indicates that AVSU 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

	AVSU	USL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.87%	10.53%	-6.66%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.32%	23.33%	-13.01%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.39%	28.54%	-15.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.87%	30.08%	-12.21%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.87%	32.35%	-14.48%

AVSU vs. USL - Expense Ratio Comparison

AVSU has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than USL's 0.88% expense ratio.

Dividends

AVSU vs. USL - Dividend Comparison

AVSU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.87%, while USL has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
AVSU Avantis Responsible U.S. Equity ETF	0.87%	1.03%	1.22%	1.22%	0.99%
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AVSU and USL in my portfolio?

AVSU and USL have a correlation of -0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, AVSU or USL?

USL has higher volatility (10.53%) compared to AVSU (3.87%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AVSU dropped -21.67% vs USL's -89.06%.

Which ETF is better, AVSU or USL?

On 3-year performance, AVSU leads with 22.19% vs 18.42% for USL. On fees, AVSU is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, AVSU has been the lower-risk option at 3.87%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, AVSU or USL?

Over the 3-year period, AVSU has performed better with a 22.19% return vs 18.42%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, AVSU or USL?

AVSU is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.88% for USL.

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

AVSU has the higher dividend yield at 0.87%, compared with 0.00% for USL.

What is the main difference between AVSU and USL?

AVSU is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while USL is Oil & Gas. AVSU tracks Russell 3000 Index, while USL tracks 12 Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for AVSU and 0.88% for USL.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

AVSU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.52 vs 2.04), 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.