EVLN vs. USO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

EVLN (Eaton Vance Floating-Rate ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - EVLN is a Bank Loan fund actively managed by Eaton Vance, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. EVLN is actively managed, while USO is passively managed. Over the past year, EVLN returned 4.93% vs 97.20% for USO. At a correlation of -0.07, they often move in opposite directions. EVLN charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.

Performance

EVLN vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Eaton Vance Floating-Rate ETF (EVLN) 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, EVLN achieves a 1.45% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 97.72% return.

EVLN

• 1D: 0.08%
• 1M: 0.59%
• YTD: 1.45%
• 6M: 1.70%
• 1Y: 4.93%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

USO

• 1D: -2.92%
• 1M: -5.15%
• YTD: 97.72%
• 6M: 91.54%
• 1Y: 97.20%
• 3Y*: 28.78%
• 5Y*: 23.67%
• 10Y*: 3.57%

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

EVLN vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
EVLN Eaton Vance Floating-Rate ETF	1.45%	5.59%	7.29%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	97.72%	-8.46%	5.63%

Correlation

The correlation between EVLN and USO is -0.18, 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	-0.18
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 9, 2024	-0.07

The correlation between EVLN and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.18 (1 year) to -0.07 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

EVLN vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

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

EVLN

EVLN Risk / Return Rank: 75
EVLN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
EVLN Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
EVLN Omega Ratio Rank: 89
EVLN Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
EVLN Martin Ratio Rank: 54

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 66
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 62
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
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.

EVLN vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Eaton Vance Floating-Rate ETF (EVLN) 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.

	EVLN	USO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.64	2.21	+0.43
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.45	2.80	+1.65
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.56	1.37	+0.19
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.80	4.79	-2.00
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.13	9.00	+0.13
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

EVLN vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EVLN Sharpe Ratio is 2.64, which is comparable to the USO Sharpe Ratio of 2.21. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EVLN 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

	EVLN	USO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.64	2.21	+0.43
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.66	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.09	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	2.56	-0.18	+2.74

Drawdowns

EVLN vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EVLN drawdown since its inception was -2.78%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EVLN and USO.

Drawdown Indicators

	EVLN	USO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-2.78%	-98.19%	+95.41%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.77%	-20.39%	+18.62%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-26.05%	—
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%	-85.45%	+85.45%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.22%	-75.30%	+75.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.54%	10.84%	-10.30%

Volatility

EVLN vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Eaton Vance Floating-Rate ETF (EVLN) is 0.45%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.97%. This indicates that EVLN 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

	EVLN	USO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.45%	14.97%	-14.52%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.62%	38.35%	-36.73%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.87%	44.32%	-42.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.43%	36.09%	-33.66%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.43%	39.00%	-36.57%

EVLN vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison

EVLN has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.

Dividends

EVLN vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

EVLN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.91%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
EVLN Eaton Vance Floating-Rate ETF	6.91%	7.28%	6.41%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both EVLN and USO in my portfolio?

EVLN and USO have a correlation of -0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, EVLN or USO?

USO has higher volatility (14.97%) compared to EVLN (0.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, EVLN dropped -2.78% vs USO's -98.19%.

Which ETF is better, EVLN or USO?

On 1-year performance, USO leads with 97.20% vs 4.93% for EVLN. On fees, EVLN is cheaper at 0.60% per year. On volatility, EVLN has been the lower-risk option at 0.45%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, EVLN or USO?

Over the 1-year period, USO has performed better with a 97.20% return vs 4.93%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, EVLN or USO?

EVLN is cheaper with a 0.60% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.

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

EVLN has the higher dividend yield at 6.91%, compared with 0.00% for USO.

What is the main difference between EVLN and USO?

EVLN is categorized as Bank Loan, while USO is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Eaton Vance and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for EVLN and 0.86% for USO.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

EVLN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.64 vs 2.21), 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.