FXB vs. USO
FXB (Invesco CurrencyShares® British Pound Sterling Trust) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - FXB is a Currency fund tracking the British Pound, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, FXB returned 0.04%/yr vs 3.80%/yr for USO. At a 0.17 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. FXB charges 0.40%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.
Performance
FXB vs. USO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FXB achieves a 0.73% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 98.48% return. Over the past 10 years, FXB has underperformed USO with an annualized return of 0.04%, while USO has yielded a comparatively higher 3.80% annualized return.
FXB
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- -0.65%
- YTD
- 0.73%
- 6M
- 2.98%
- 1Y
- 1.58%
- 3Y*
- 5.52%
- 5Y*
- 0.93%
- 10Y*
- 0.04%
USO
- 1D
- 1.31%
- 1M
- -3.87%
- YTD
- 98.48%
- 6M
- 95.54%
- 1Y
- 97.37%
- 3Y*
- 28.86%
- 5Y*
- 23.92%
- 10Y*
- 3.80%
FXB vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FXB Invesco CurrencyShares® British Pound Sterling Trust | 0.73% | 10.37% | 1.35% | 8.58% | -10.45% | -1.54% | 2.87% | 3.87% | -5.75% | 9.10% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 98.48% | -8.46% | 13.35% | -4.94% | 28.97% | 64.68% | -67.79% | 32.61% | -19.57% | 2.47% |
Correlation
The correlation between FXB and USO is -0.32, 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 | -0.32 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 27, 2006 | 0.17 |
The correlation between FXB and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.32 (1 year) to 0.17 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
FXB vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank
FXB
USO
FXB vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco CurrencyShares® British Pound Sterling Trust (FXB) 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.
| FXB | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.24 | 2.22 | -1.98 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.39 | 2.81 | -2.42 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.05 | 1.37 | -0.33 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.48 | 5.12 | -4.64 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.00 | 9.66 | -8.66 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FXB | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.24 | 2.22 | -1.98 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 | 0.67 | -0.56 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.00 | 0.10 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.07 | -0.18 | +0.11 |
Drawdowns
FXB vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FXB drawdown since its inception was -48.99%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FXB and USO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| FXB | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -48.99% | -98.19% | +49.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.53% | -20.39% | +15.86% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.44% | -26.05% | +17.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.83% | -36.23% | +11.40% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.30% | -86.75% | +57.45% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -29.31% | -85.39% | +56.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.54% | -75.30% | +47.76% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.16% | 10.81% | -8.65% |
Volatility
FXB vs. USO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Invesco CurrencyShares® British Pound Sterling Trust (FXB) is 1.77%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 15.03%. This indicates that FXB 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| FXB | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.77% | 15.03% | -13.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.83% | 38.18% | -33.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.56% | 44.26% | -37.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.48% | 36.04% | -27.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 9.31% | 39.00% | -29.69% |
FXB vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison
FXB has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.
Dividends
FXB vs. USO - Dividend Comparison
FXB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.20%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FXB Invesco CurrencyShares® British Pound Sterling Trust | 2.20% | 2.44% | 3.25% | 2.59% | 0.29% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FXB and USO have a correlation of -0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
USO has higher volatility (15.03%) compared to FXB (1.77%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FXB dropped -48.99% vs USO's -98.19%.
On 10-year performance, USO leads with 3.80% vs 0.04% for FXB. On fees, FXB is cheaper at 0.40% per year. On volatility, FXB has been the lower-risk option at 1.77%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, USO has performed better with a 3.80% return vs 0.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
FXB is cheaper with a 0.40% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.
FXB has the higher dividend yield at 2.20%, compared with 0.00% for USO.
FXB is categorized as Currency, while USO is Oil & Gas. FXB tracks British Pound, while USO tracks Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: Invesco and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.40% for FXB and 0.86% for USO.
USO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.22 vs 0.24), 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.
Find the right allocation for FXB and USO
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer