NUAG vs. NUSC
NUAG (Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and NUSC (Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NUAG is a Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the ICE BofA Enhanced Yield US Broad Bond, while NUSC is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, NUAG returned 0.51%/yr vs 4.87%/yr for NUSC. At a 0.12 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. NUAG charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.30%/yr for NUSC.
Performance
NUAG vs. NUSC - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUAG achieves a 0.67% return, which is significantly lower than NUSC's 13.93% return.
NUAG
- 1D
- 0.17%
- 1M
- 0.39%
- YTD
- 0.67%
- 6M
- 0.70%
- 1Y
- 5.51%
- 3Y*
- 4.97%
- 5Y*
- 0.51%
- 10Y*
- —
NUSC
- 1D
- 0.93%
- 1M
- 3.29%
- YTD
- 13.93%
- 6M
- 13.54%
- 1Y
- 28.92%
- 3Y*
- 14.10%
- 5Y*
- 4.87%
- 10Y*
- —
NUAG vs. NUSC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUAG Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.67% | 7.37% | 2.02% | 7.52% | -13.97% | -2.03% | 7.48% | 10.13% | -1.45% | 3.98% |
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 13.93% | 7.72% | 8.29% | 15.72% | -17.73% | 17.51% | 23.69% | 27.09% | -9.40% | 16.50% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUAG and NUSC is 0.36, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 15, 2016 | 0.12 |
Over the past year, NUAG and NUSC have become more correlated (0.36) than their long-term average of 0.12, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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
NUAG vs. NUSC — Risk / Return Rank
NUAG
NUSC
NUAG vs. NUSC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUAG) and Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC). 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.
| NUAG | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.17 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.29 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.18 | 2.88 | -0.70 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.58 | 10.35 | -3.77 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| NUAG | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.56 | 1.70 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.08 | 0.23 | -0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 0.45 | -0.13 |
Drawdowns
NUAG vs. NUSC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUAG drawdown since its inception was -19.79%, smaller than the maximum NUSC drawdown of -41.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUAG and NUSC.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| NUAG | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.79% | -41.49% | +21.70% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.54% | -10.10% | +7.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.61% | -26.95% | +21.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.19% | -28.85% | +9.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.06% | 0.00% | -1.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.95% | -8.21% | +3.26% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.84% | 2.80% | -1.96% |
Volatility
NUAG vs. NUSC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUAG) is 1.15%, while Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) has a volatility of 4.39%. This indicates that NUAG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NUSC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| NUAG | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.15% | 4.39% | -3.24% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.59% | 12.19% | -9.60% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.58% | 17.08% | -13.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.01% | 21.15% | -15.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.48% | 22.35% | -16.87% |
NUAG vs. NUSC - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUAG has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is lower than NUSC's 0.30% expense ratio.
Dividends
NUAG vs. NUSC - Dividend Comparison
NUAG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.49%, more than NUSC's 0.92% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUAG Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 4.49% | 4.43% | 4.44% | 3.95% | 3.60% | 2.27% | 2.93% | 3.54% | 3.79% | 3.38% | 0.48% |
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 0.92% | 1.05% | 1.15% | 1.11% | 1.16% | 7.06% | 0.52% | 0.90% | 3.95% | 0.94% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NUAG and NUSC have a correlation of 0.36, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NUSC has higher volatility (4.39%) compared to NUAG (1.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUAG dropped -19.79% vs NUSC's -41.49%.
On 5-year performance, NUSC leads with 4.87% vs 0.51% for NUAG. On fees, NUAG is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, NUAG has been the lower-risk option at 1.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, NUSC has performed better with a 4.87% return vs 0.51%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
NUAG is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.30% for NUSC.
NUAG has the higher dividend yield at 4.49%, compared with 0.92% for NUSC.
NUAG is categorized as Intermediate Core Bond, while NUSC is Small Cap Growth Equities. NUAG tracks ICE BofA Enhanced Yield US Broad Bond, while NUSC tracks MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap. Their fees differ too: 0.19% for NUAG and 0.30% for NUSC.
NUSC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.70 vs 1.56), 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 NUAG and NUSC
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