IQSM vs. USL

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

IQSM (IQ Candriam U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF) and USL (United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - IQSM is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Mid Cap Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net, while USL is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the 12 Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, IQSM returned 13.84%/yr vs 18.42%/yr for USL. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IQSM charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.88%/yr for USL.

Performance

IQSM vs. USL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in IQ Candriam U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF (IQSM) and United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IQSM achieves a 11.77% return, which is significantly lower than USL's 63.07% return.

IQSM

• 1D: 0.11%
• 1M: 4.36%
• YTD: 11.77%
• 6M: 12.17%
• 1Y: 22.78%
• 3Y*: 13.84%
• 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%

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

IQSM vs. USL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
IQSM IQ Candriam U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF	11.77%	7.97%	9.15%	15.82%	2.29%
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP	63.07%	-12.37%	8.30%	-1.11%	0.94%

Correlation

The correlation between IQSM 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 (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.02
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 26, 2022	0.06

The correlation between IQSM and USL shifts across timeframes, from -0.27 (1 year) to 0.06 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

IQSM vs. USL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IQSM	USL
Industrials	23.1%	-
Technology	15.5%	-
Healthcare	14.2%	-
Financial Services	12.4%	4.5%
Consumer Cyclical	10.2%	-
Real Estate	10.0%	-
Consumer Defensive	4.6%	-
Basic Materials	4.1%	-
Energy	2.6%	-
Communication Services	2.6%	-
Utilities	0.6%	-

Return for Risk

IQSM vs. USL — Risk / Return Rank

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

IQSM

IQSM Risk / Return Rank: 48
IQSM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
IQSM Sortino Ratio Rank: 45
IQSM Omega Ratio Rank: 42
IQSM Calmar Ratio Rank: 53
IQSM Martin Ratio Rank: 55

USL

USL Risk / Return Rank: 56
USL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 59
USL Sortino Ratio Rank: 53
USL Omega Ratio Rank: 54
USL Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
USL Martin Ratio Rank: 43

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.

IQSM vs. USL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for IQ Candriam U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF (IQSM) 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.

	IQSM	USL	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.53	2.04	-0.51
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.24	2.58	-0.35
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.27	1.34	-0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.58	3.47	-0.89
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.43	7.02	+2.41
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IQSM vs. USL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IQSM Sharpe Ratio is 1.53, which is comparable to the USL Sharpe Ratio of 2.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IQSM and USL, 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

	IQSM	USL	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.53	2.04	-0.51
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	0.74	0.01	+0.73

Drawdowns

IQSM vs. USL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IQSM drawdown since its inception was -23.66%, smaller than the maximum USL drawdown of -89.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IQSM and USL.

Drawdown Indicators

	IQSM	USL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-23.66%	-89.06%	+65.40%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.86%	-16.76%	+7.90%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-23.66%	-23.33%	-0.33%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-33.82%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-66.02%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-38.16%	+38.16%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.87%	-61.46%	+56.59%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.42%	8.27%	-5.85%

Volatility

IQSM vs. USL - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for IQ Candriam U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF (IQSM) is 3.97%, while United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL) has a volatility of 10.53%. This indicates that IQSM 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.

Volatility by Period

	IQSM	USL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.97%	10.53%	-6.56%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.98%	23.33%	-12.35%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.97%	28.54%	-13.57%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.89%	30.08%	-12.19%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.89%	32.35%	-14.46%

IQSM vs. USL - Expense Ratio Comparison

IQSM has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than USL's 0.88% expense ratio.

Dividends

IQSM vs. USL - Dividend Comparison

IQSM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.06%, while USL has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
IQSM IQ Candriam U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF	1.06%	1.18%	1.22%	1.11%	0.32%
USL United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IQSM and USL in my portfolio?

IQSM 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.

Which is riskier, IQSM or USL?

USL has higher volatility (10.53%) compared to IQSM (3.97%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IQSM dropped -23.66% vs USL's -89.06%.

Which ETF is better, IQSM or USL?

On 3-year performance, USL leads with 18.42% vs 13.84% for IQSM. On fees, IQSM is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, IQSM has been the lower-risk option at 3.97%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, IQSM or USL?

Over the 3-year period, USL has performed better with a 18.42% return vs 13.84%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, IQSM or USL?

IQSM is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.88% for USL.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IQSM or USL?

IQSM has the higher dividend yield at 1.06%, compared with 0.00% for USL.

What is the main difference between IQSM and USL?

IQSM is categorized as Mid Cap Blend Equities, while USL is Oil & Gas. IQSM tracks IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Mid Cap Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net, while USL tracks 12 Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: IndexIQ and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IQSM and 0.88% for USL.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

USL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.04 vs 1.53), 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.