IDEF vs. USO
IDEF (iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - IDEF is a Aerospace & Defense fund actively managed by iShares, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. IDEF is actively managed, while USO is passively managed. Over the past year, IDEF returned 23.46% vs 97.20% for USO. At a correlation of -0.15, they often move in opposite directions. IDEF charges 0.55%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.
Performance
IDEF vs. USO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IDEF achieves a 6.53% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 97.72% return.
IDEF
- 1D
- 1.70%
- 1M
- -1.20%
- YTD
- 6.53%
- 6M
- 9.95%
- 1Y
- 23.46%
- 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%
IDEF vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF | 6.53% | 23.05% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 97.72% | 2.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between IDEF and USO is -0.16, 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 | -0.16 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 22, 2025 | -0.15 |
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
IDEF vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank
IDEF
USO
IDEF vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) 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.
| IDEF | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.09 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.14 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.37 | -0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.61 | 4.79 | -3.18 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.16 | 9.00 | -4.84 |
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
| IDEF | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.11 | 2.21 | -1.09 |
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 | 1.43 | -0.18 | +1.60 |
Drawdowns
IDEF vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IDEF drawdown since its inception was -14.63%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IDEF and USO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IDEF | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.63% | -98.19% | +83.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.63% | -20.39% | +5.76% |
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 DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.81% | -85.45% | +74.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.93% | -75.30% | +71.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.65% | 10.84% | -5.19% |
Volatility
IDEF vs. USO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) is 8.07%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.97%. This indicates that IDEF 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
| IDEF | USO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.07% | 14.97% | -6.90% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.02% | 38.35% | -20.33% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.19% | 44.32% | -23.13% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.08% | 36.09% | -15.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.08% | 39.00% | -17.92% |
IDEF vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison
IDEF has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.
Dividends
IDEF vs. USO - Dividend Comparison
IDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.16%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF | 0.16% | 0.17% |
USO United States Oil Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IDEF and USO have a correlation of -0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
USO has higher volatility (14.97%) compared to IDEF (8.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IDEF dropped -14.63% vs USO's -98.19%.
On 1-year performance, USO leads with 97.20% vs 23.46% for IDEF. On fees, IDEF is cheaper at 0.55% per year. On volatility, IDEF has been the lower-risk option at 8.07%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, USO has performed better with a 97.20% return vs 23.46%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IDEF is cheaper with a 0.55% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.
IDEF has the higher dividend yield at 0.16%, compared with 0.00% for USO.
IDEF is categorized as Aerospace & Defense, while USO is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: iShares and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.55% for IDEF and 0.86% for USO.
USO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.21 vs 1.11), 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 IDEF 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