CPRO vs. USO

Last updated Jun 23, 2026

CPRO (Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF - October) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - CPRO is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by Calamos, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. CPRO is actively managed, while USO is passively managed. Over the past year, CPRO returned 13.53% vs 35.58% for USO. At a correlation of -0.15, they often move in opposite directions. CPRO charges 0.69%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.

Performance

CPRO vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF - October (CPRO) 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, CPRO achieves a 4.39% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 62.94% return.

CPRO

• 1D: 0.20%
• 1M: 0.95%
• YTD: 4.39%
• 6M: 4.04%
• 1Y: 13.53%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

USO

• 1D: -1.90%
• 1M: -20.03%
• YTD: 62.94%
• 6M: 61.61%
• 1Y: 35.58%
• 3Y*: 21.76%
• 5Y*: 17.78%
• 10Y*: 2.14%

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

CPRO vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
CPRO Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF - October	4.39%	8.34%	0.22%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	62.94%	-8.46%	8.05%

Correlation

The correlation between CPRO and USO is -0.28, 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	-0.28
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 1, 2024	-0.15

The correlation between CPRO and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.28 (1 year) to -0.15 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

CPRO vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

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

CPRO

CPRO Risk / Return Rank: 94
CPRO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 91
CPRO Sortino Ratio Rank: 96
CPRO Omega Ratio Rank: 94
CPRO Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
CPRO Martin Ratio Rank: 95

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 26
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 23
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 26
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 26
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 28
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 28

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.

CPRO vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF - October (CPRO) 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	CPRO	USO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.03	0.81	+2.23
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	5.55	1.38	+4.16
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.67	1.17	+0.49
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	7.68	1.36	+6.33
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	28.45	3.61	+24.84

CPRO vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CPRO Sharpe Ratio is 3.03, which is higher than the USO Sharpe Ratio of 0.81. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CPRO 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.

Drawdowns

CPRO vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CPRO drawdown since its inception was -3.36%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CPRO and USO.

Drawdown Indicators

	CPRO	USO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-3.36%	-98.19%	+94.83%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.77%	-26.33%	+24.56%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-26.33%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-36.23%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-86.75%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-88.01%	+88.01%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.69%	-75.31%	+74.62%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.48%	11.59%	-11.11%

Volatility

CPRO vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF - October (CPRO) is 0.77%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 11.79%. This indicates that CPRO 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

	CPRO	USO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.77%	11.79%	-11.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.12%	39.34%	-37.22%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.49%	44.41%	-39.92%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.13%	36.32%	-32.19%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	4.13%	39.05%	-34.92%

CPRO vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison

CPRO has a 0.69% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.

Dividends

CPRO vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

Neither CPRO nor USO has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CPRO and USO in my portfolio?

CPRO and USO have a correlation of -0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, CPRO or USO?

USO has higher volatility (11.79%) compared to CPRO (0.77%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CPRO dropped -3.36% vs USO's -98.19%.

Which ETF is better, CPRO or USO?

On 1-year performance, USO leads with 35.58% vs 13.53% for CPRO. On fees, CPRO is cheaper at 0.69% per year. On volatility, CPRO has been the lower-risk option at 0.77%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, CPRO or USO?

Over the 1-year period, USO has performed better with a 35.58% return vs 13.53%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, CPRO or USO?

CPRO is cheaper with a 0.69% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, CPRO or USO?

CPRO and USO have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between CPRO and USO?

CPRO is categorized as Defined Outcome, while USO is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Calamos and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.69% for CPRO and 0.86% for USO.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

CPRO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.03 vs 0.81), 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.