NUSA vs. NUSC
NUSA (Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and NUSC (Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF) 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 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, NUSA returned 1.48%/yr vs 4.32%/yr for NUSC. At a 0.09 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. NUSA charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.30%/yr for NUSC.
Performance
NUSA vs. NUSC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUSA achieves a 0.24% return, which is significantly lower than NUSC's 10.97% return.
NUSA
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- -0.23%
- YTD
- 0.24%
- 6M
- 0.52%
- 1Y
- 3.50%
- 3Y*
- 4.31%
- 5Y*
- 1.48%
- 10Y*
- —
NUSC
- 1D
- -2.59%
- 1M
- -0.26%
- YTD
- 10.97%
- 6M
- 10.50%
- 1Y
- 25.74%
- 3Y*
- 12.17%
- 5Y*
- 4.32%
- 10Y*
- —
NUSA vs. NUSC - 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 | 0.24% | 5.89% | 3.52% | 5.19% | -5.91% | -1.04% | 4.85% | 5.62% | 1.40% | 1.00% |
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 10.97% | 7.72% | 8.29% | 15.72% | -17.73% | 17.51% | 23.69% | 27.09% | -9.40% | 13.46% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUSA and NUSC is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 4, 2017 | 0.09 |
The correlation between NUSA and NUSC shifts across timeframes, from 0.09 (all time) to 0.27 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
NUSA vs. NUSC — Risk / Return Rank
NUSA
NUSC
NUSA vs. NUSC - 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 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.
| NUSA | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.43 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.84 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.26 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.74 | 2.56 | +0.18 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.65 | 9.20 | +0.45 |
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 | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.93 | 1.50 | +0.43 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.53 | 0.20 | +0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.81 | 0.43 | +0.38 |
Drawdowns
NUSA vs. NUSC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUSA drawdown since its inception was -9.44%, smaller than the maximum NUSC drawdown of -41.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUSA and NUSC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUSA | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.44% | -41.49% | +32.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.28% | -10.10% | +8.82% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.62% | -26.95% | +25.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.44% | -28.85% | +19.41% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.70% | -2.59% | +1.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.65% | -8.21% | +6.56% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.36% | 2.81% | -2.45% |
Volatility
NUSA vs. NUSC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUSA) is 0.67%, while Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) has a volatility of 5.13%. This indicates that NUSA 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.
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Volatility by Period
| NUSA | NUSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.67% | 5.13% | -4.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.35% | 12.45% | -11.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.83% | 17.28% | -15.45% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.80% | 21.18% | -18.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.73% | 22.36% | -19.63% |
NUSA vs. NUSC - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUSA has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than NUSC's 0.30% expense ratio.
Dividends
NUSA vs. NUSC - Dividend Comparison
NUSA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.87%, more than NUSC's 0.94% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUSA Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.87% | 3.83% | 3.93% | 3.54% | 2.44% | 2.16% | 2.51% | 2.85% | 3.22% | 2.20% |
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 0.94% | 1.05% | 1.15% | 1.11% | 1.16% | 7.06% | 0.52% | 0.90% | 3.95% | 0.94% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NUSA and NUSC 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.
NUSC has higher volatility (5.13%) compared to NUSA (0.67%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUSA dropped -9.44% vs NUSC's -41.49%.
On 5-year performance, NUSC leads with 4.32% vs 1.48% for NUSA. On fees, NUSA is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, NUSA has been the lower-risk option at 0.67%. 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 4.32% return vs 1.48%. 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 0.30% for NUSC.
NUSA has the higher dividend yield at 3.87%, compared with 0.94% for NUSC.
NUSA is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while NUSC is Small Cap Growth Equities. NUSA tracks ICE BofA Enhanced Yield US Broad Bond (1-5 Y), while NUSC tracks MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for NUSA and 0.30% for NUSC.
NUSA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.93 vs 1.50), 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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