FGSM vs. USL
FGSM (Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF) and USL (United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - FGSM is a Global Equities fund actively managed by Frontier, while USL is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the 12 Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. FGSM is actively managed, while USL is passively managed. Over the past year, FGSM returned 32.27% vs 57.86% for USL. At a correlation of -0.08, they often move in opposite directions. FGSM charges 0.90%/yr vs 0.88%/yr for USL.
Performance
FGSM vs. USL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FGSM achieves a 13.99% return, which is significantly lower than USL's 63.07% return.
FGSM
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- 2.97%
- YTD
- 13.99%
- 6M
- 14.77%
- 1Y
- 32.27%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
USL
- 1D
- 1.55%
- 1M
- -1.61%
- YTD
- 63.07%
- 6M
- 59.66%
- 1Y
- 57.86%
- 3Y*
- 18.42%
- 5Y*
- 17.41%
- 10Y*
- 10.91%
FGSM vs. USL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
FGSM Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF | 13.99% | 21.33% | 0.24% |
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP | 63.07% | -12.37% | 3.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between FGSM and USL is -0.27, 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 | -0.27 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 23, 2024 | -0.08 |
The correlation between FGSM and USL shifts across timeframes, from -0.27 (1 year) to -0.08 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
FGSM vs. USL — Risk / Return Rank
FGSM
USL
FGSM vs. USL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF (FGSM) and United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL). 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.
| FGSM | USL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.15 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.34 | +0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.29 | 3.47 | -0.18 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.79 | 7.02 | +5.77 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FGSM | USL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.19 | 2.04 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.58 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.34 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.44 | 0.01 | +1.43 |
Drawdowns
FGSM vs. USL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FGSM drawdown since its inception was -17.72%, smaller than the maximum USL drawdown of -89.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FGSM and USL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FGSM | USL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.72% | -89.06% | +71.34% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.84% | -16.76% | +6.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -23.33% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -33.82% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -66.02% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.80% | -38.16% | +37.36% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.21% | -61.46% | +59.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.53% | 8.27% | -5.74% |
Volatility
FGSM vs. USL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF (FGSM) is 4.40%, while United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL) has a volatility of 10.53%. This indicates that FGSM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FGSM | USL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.40% | 10.53% | -6.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.03% | 23.33% | -12.30% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.80% | 28.54% | -13.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.81% | 30.08% | -12.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.81% | 32.35% | -14.54% |
FGSM vs. USL - Expense Ratio Comparison
FGSM has a 0.90% expense ratio, which is higher than USL's 0.88% expense ratio.
Dividends
FGSM vs. USL - Dividend Comparison
FGSM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.36%, while USL has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
FGSM Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF | 1.36% | 1.56% |
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FGSM and USL have a correlation of -0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
USL has higher volatility (10.53%) compared to FGSM (4.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FGSM dropped -17.72% vs USL's -89.06%.
On 1-year performance, USL leads with 57.86% vs 32.27% for FGSM. On fees, USL is cheaper at 0.88% per year. On volatility, FGSM has been the lower-risk option at 4.40%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, USL has performed better with a 57.86% return vs 32.27%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
USL is cheaper with a 0.88% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for FGSM.
FGSM has the higher dividend yield at 1.36%, compared with 0.00% for USL.
FGSM is categorized as Global Equities, while USL is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Frontier and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.90% for FGSM and 0.88% for USL.
FGSM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.19 vs 2.04), 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.
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