BUFQ vs. USO
BUFQ (FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - BUFQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ 100 Index - USD, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, BUFQ returned 16.99%/yr vs 29.98%/yr for USO. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BUFQ charges 1.10%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.
Performance
BUFQ vs. USO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BUFQ achieves a 9.53% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 103.67% return.
BUFQ
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- 2.68%
- YTD
- 9.53%
- 6M
- 10.14%
- 1Y
- 21.61%
- 3Y*
- 16.99%
- 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%
BUFQ vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BUFQ FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | 9.53% | 14.03% | 16.41% | 35.51% | 0.75% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 103.67% | -8.46% | 13.35% | -4.94% | -20.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between BUFQ and USO is -0.30, 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 | -0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 17, 2022 | 0.01 |
The correlation between BUFQ and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.30 (1 year) to 0.01 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BUFQ vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank
BUFQ
USO
BUFQ vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) 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.
| BUFQ | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.53 | 1.38 | +0.14 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.03 | 5.01 | -0.98 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 20.34 | 9.42 | +10.92 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BUFQ | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.62 | 2.31 | +0.31 |
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 | 1.42 | -0.18 | +1.60 |
Drawdowns
BUFQ vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BUFQ drawdown since its inception was -15.74%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BUFQ and USO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BUFQ | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.74% | -98.19% | +82.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.39% | -20.39% | +15.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.74% | -26.05% | +10.31% |
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 | -0.04% | -85.01% | +84.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.31% | -75.30% | +72.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.06% | 10.82% | -9.76% |
Volatility
BUFQ vs. USO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) is 1.17%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.87%. This indicates that BUFQ 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BUFQ | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.17% | 14.87% | -13.70% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.42% | 38.23% | -31.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.31% | 44.20% | -35.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.35% | 36.06% | -22.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.35% | 39.00% | -25.65% |
BUFQ vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison
BUFQ has a 1.10% expense ratio, which is higher than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.
Dividends
BUFQ vs. USO - Dividend Comparison
Neither BUFQ nor USO has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
BUFQ and USO have a correlation of -0.30, 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 BUFQ (1.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BUFQ dropped -15.74% vs USO's -98.19%.
On 3-year performance, USO leads with 29.98% vs 16.99% for BUFQ. On fees, USO is cheaper at 0.86% per year. On volatility, BUFQ has been the lower-risk option at 1.17%. 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 16.99%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
USO is cheaper with a 0.86% expense ratio, compared with 1.10% for BUFQ.
BUFQ and USO have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
BUFQ is categorized as Nasdaq-100, while USO is Oil & Gas. BUFQ tracks NASDAQ 100 Index - USD, while USO tracks Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: FT Vest and USCF. Their fees differ too: 1.10% for BUFQ and 0.86% for USO.
BUFQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.62 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.
Find the right allocation for BUFQ and USO
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer