NUSA vs. DBC
NUSA (Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and DBC (Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - NUSA is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the ICE BofA Enhanced Yield US Broad Bond (1-5 Y), while DBC is a Commodities fund tracking the DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, NUSA returned 1.53%/yr vs 12.47%/yr for DBC. At a correlation of -0.05, they often move in opposite directions. NUSA charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.85%/yr for DBC.
Performance
NUSA vs. DBC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUSA achieves a 0.48% return, which is significantly lower than DBC's 33.63% return.
NUSA
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- 0.22%
- YTD
- 0.48%
- 6M
- 0.72%
- 1Y
- 3.56%
- 3Y*
- 4.37%
- 5Y*
- 1.53%
- 10Y*
- —
DBC
- 1D
- -1.35%
- 1M
- -4.23%
- YTD
- 33.63%
- 6M
- 33.19%
- 1Y
- 44.46%
- 3Y*
- 14.67%
- 5Y*
- 12.47%
- 10Y*
- 8.83%
NUSA vs. DBC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUSA Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.48% | 5.89% | 3.52% | 5.19% | -5.91% | -1.04% | 4.85% | 5.62% | 1.40% | 1.00% |
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 33.63% | 8.10% | 2.18% | -6.19% | 19.34% | 41.36% | -7.84% | 11.84% | -11.63% | 9.64% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUSA and DBC 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 | -0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 4, 2017 | -0.05 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between NUSA and DBC has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.05 to -0.32, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
NUSA vs. DBC — Risk / Return Rank
NUSA
DBC
NUSA vs. DBC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUSA) and Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC). 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.
| NUSA | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.41 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.06 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.42 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.79 | 6.34 | -3.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.89 | 13.40 | -3.51 |
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
| NUSA | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.98 | 2.39 | -0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.55 | 0.65 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.50 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.82 | 0.11 | +0.70 |
Drawdowns
NUSA vs. DBC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUSA drawdown since its inception was -9.44%, smaller than the maximum DBC drawdown of -76.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUSA and DBC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUSA | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.44% | -76.36% | +66.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.28% | -7.05% | +5.77% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.62% | -13.82% | +12.20% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.44% | -27.34% | +17.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -41.71% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.46% | -22.70% | +22.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.65% | -46.22% | +44.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.36% | 3.33% | -2.97% |
Volatility
NUSA vs. DBC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUSA) is 0.66%, while Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) has a volatility of 6.56%. This indicates that NUSA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DBC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NUSA | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.66% | 6.56% | -5.90% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.33% | 15.82% | -14.49% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.82% | 18.73% | -16.91% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.80% | 19.18% | -16.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.72% | 17.81% | -15.09% |
NUSA vs. DBC - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUSA has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than DBC's 0.85% expense ratio.
Dividends
NUSA vs. DBC - Dividend Comparison
NUSA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.86%, more than DBC's 2.49% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 2.49% | 3.33% | 5.22% | 4.94% | 0.59% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.59% | 1.30% | 0.00% |
NUSA Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.86% | 3.83% | 3.93% | 3.54% | 2.44% | 2.16% | 2.51% | 2.85% | 3.22% | 2.20% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NUSA and DBC 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.
DBC has higher volatility (6.56%) compared to NUSA (0.66%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUSA dropped -9.44% vs DBC's -76.36%.
On 5-year performance, DBC leads with 12.47% vs 1.53% for NUSA. On fees, NUSA is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, NUSA has been the lower-risk option at 0.66%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, DBC has performed better with a 12.47% return vs 1.53%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
NUSA is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for DBC.
NUSA has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 2.49% for DBC.
NUSA is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while DBC is Commodities. NUSA tracks ICE BofA Enhanced Yield US Broad Bond (1-5 Y), while DBC tracks DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for NUSA and 0.85% for DBC.
DBC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.39 vs 1.98), 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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