CRUX vs. USO

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

CRUX (Columbia Core Bond ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - CRUX is a Intermediate Core Bond fund actively managed by Columbia, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. CRUX is actively managed, while USO is passively managed. Their -0.56 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. CRUX charges 0.32%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.

Performance

CRUX vs. USO - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

CRUX

• 1D: -0.15%
• 1M: -1.14%
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: —

USO

• 1D: 1.33%
• 1M: 24.23%
• 6M: 62.44%
• YTD: 86.77%
• 1Y: 66.76%
• 3Y*: 20.97%
• 5Y*: 20.59%
• 10Y*: 5.64%
• ALL TIME*: -6.85%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
CRUX Columbia Core Bond ETF	$4.96M	$11.06M	$8.56M
USO United States Oil Fund LP	$968.42M	$871.56M	$931.57M

CRUX vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
CRUX Columbia Core Bond ETF	-0.73%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	7.74%

Correlation

The correlation between CRUX and USO is -0.56, meaning they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. This relationship can weaken or reverse as market conditions change.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 16, 2026	-0.56

Return for Risk

CRUX vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

CRUX

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 55
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 59
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 57
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 55
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 49

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

CRUX vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Columbia Core Bond ETF (CRUX) 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.

	CRUX	USO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	1.34	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	1.99	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.25	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	1.93	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	5.60	—

Drawdowns

CRUX vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CRUX drawdown since its inception was -1.85%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CRUX and USO.

Drawdown Indicators

	CRUX	USO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-1.85%	-98.19%	+96.34%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-32.49%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-32.49%	—
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	-1.70%	-86.26%	+84.56%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.69%	-75.38%	+74.69%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	12.03%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	CRUX	USO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	17.73%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	42.79%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.93%	46.91%	-42.98%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.93%	37.06%	-33.13%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.93%	39.29%	-35.36%

CRUX vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison

CRUX has a 0.32% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.

Dividends

CRUX vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

CRUX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.41%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM
CRUX Columbia Core Bond ETF	1.41%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CRUX and USO in my portfolio?

CRUX and USO have a correlation of -0.56, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, CRUX or USO?

On fees, CRUX is cheaper at 0.32% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CRUX or USO?

CRUX is cheaper with a 0.32% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.

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

CRUX has the higher dividend yield at 1.41%, compared with 0.00% for USO.

What is the main difference between CRUX and USO?

CRUX is categorized as Intermediate Core Bond, while USO is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Columbia and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.32% for CRUX and 0.86% for USO.