C vs. USO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

C (Citigroup Inc.) is a stock, while USO (United States Oil Fund LP) is Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Over the past 10 years, C returned 14.47%/yr vs 4.07%/yr for USO. At a 0.21 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

C vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Citigroup Inc. (C) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, C achieves a 12.46% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 103.67% return. Over the past 10 years, C has outperformed USO with an annualized return of 14.47%, while USO has yielded a comparatively lower 4.07% annualized return.

C

• 1D: -1.01%
• 1M: 3.42%
• YTD: 12.46%
• 6M: 22.96%
• 1Y: 73.63%
• 3Y*: 45.73%
• 5Y*: 14.21%
• 10Y*: 14.47%

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%

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

C vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
C Citigroup Inc.	12.46%	70.38%	41.93%	18.98%	-22.09%	0.93%	-19.70%	57.82%	-28.49%	27.03%
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 C and USO is -0.17, 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	-0.17
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.01
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.13
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.20
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 11, 2006	0.21

The correlation between C and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.17 (1 year) to 0.21 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

C vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

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

C

C Risk / Return Rank: 91
C Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
C Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
C Omega Ratio Rank: 89
C Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
C Martin Ratio Rank: 92

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 66
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 61
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 87
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 54

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.

C vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Citigroup Inc. (C) 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.

	C	USO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.66	2.31	+0.35
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.30	2.89	+0.41
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	1.38	+0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	5.01	5.01	+0.01
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	14.45	9.42	+5.03
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

C vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current C Sharpe Ratio is 2.66, which is comparable to the USO Sharpe Ratio of 2.31. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of C and USO, 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

	C	USO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.66	2.31	+0.35
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.49	0.68	-0.19
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.44	0.10	+0.33
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.15	-0.18	+0.33

Drawdowns

C vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum C drawdown since its inception was -98.00%, roughly equal to the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for C and USO.

Drawdown Indicators

	C	USO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-98.00%	-98.19%	+0.19%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.76%	-20.39%	+5.63%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-31.31%	-26.05%	-5.26%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-47.56%	-36.23%	-11.33%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-56.51%	-86.75%	+30.24%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-65.32%	-85.01%	+19.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-43.50%	-75.30%	+31.80%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.11%	10.82%	-5.71%

Volatility

C vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Citigroup Inc. (C) is 7.44%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.87%. This indicates that C 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.

Volatility by Period

	C	USO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.44%	14.87%	-7.43%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	22.66%	38.23%	-15.57%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	27.86%	44.20%	-16.34%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	29.11%	36.06%	-6.95%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	33.20%	39.00%	-5.80%

Dividends

C vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

C's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.85%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
C Citigroup Inc.	1.85%	1.99%	3.10%	4.04%	4.51%	3.38%	3.31%	2.40%	2.96%	1.29%	0.71%	0.31%
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%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both C and USO in my portfolio?

C and USO have a correlation of -0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, C or USO?

USO has higher volatility (14.87%) compared to C (7.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, C dropped -98.00% vs USO's -98.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

C currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.66 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.