OILU vs. KORU

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

OILU (MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETN) and KORU (Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - OILU is a Leveraged Commodities fund managed by BMO, while KORU is a Leveraged Equities fund tracking the MSCI Korea 25-50 Index. Over the past 3 years, OILU returned 6.45%/yr vs 98.37%/yr for KORU. At a 0.22 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. OILU charges 0.95%/yr vs 1.29%/yr for KORU.

Performance

OILU vs. KORU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETN (OILU) and Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares (KORU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, OILU achieves a 80.85% return, which is significantly lower than KORU's 354.34% return.

OILU

• 1D: 2.31%
• 1M: -5.32%
• YTD: 80.85%
• 6M: 71.72%
• 1Y: 79.06%
• 3Y*: 6.45%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

KORU

• 1D: -2.03%
• 1M: -7.72%
• YTD: 354.34%
• 6M: 454.07%
• 1Y: 1,103.22%
• 3Y*: 98.37%
• 5Y*: 15.47%
• 10Y*: 15.99%

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

OILU vs. KORU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
OILU MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETN	80.85%	-16.50%	-21.65%	-32.50%	151.08%	-16.79%
KORU Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares	354.34%	432.73%	-62.18%	28.61%	-70.16%	-3.07%

Correlation

The correlation between OILU and KORU is 0.01, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.01
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.13
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 9, 2021	0.22

Over the past year, the correlation between OILU and KORU has dropped to 0.01 - well below their long-term average of 0.22, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

OILU vs. KORU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	OILU	KORU
Energy	100.0%	1.4%
Basic Materials	-	2.0%
Communication Services	-	2.9%
Consumer Cyclical	-	5.8%
Consumer Defensive	-	1.8%
Financial Services	-	9.5%
Healthcare	-	3.5%
Industrials	-	20.4%
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	52.3%
Utilities	-	0.4%

Return for Risk

OILU vs. KORU — Risk / Return Rank

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

OILU

OILU Risk / Return Rank: 42
OILU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 41
OILU Sortino Ratio Rank: 38
OILU Omega Ratio Rank: 36
OILU Calmar Ratio Rank: 54
OILU Martin Ratio Rank: 40

KORU

KORU Risk / Return Rank: 96
KORU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
KORU Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
KORU Omega Ratio Rank: 93
KORU Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
KORU Martin Ratio Rank: 98

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.

OILU vs. KORU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETN (OILU) and Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares (KORU). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	OILU	KORU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.27	8.14	-6.87
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.78	3.97	-2.18
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.22	1.57	-0.36
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.37	18.17	-15.79
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.62	54.29	-48.67

OILU vs. KORU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current OILU Sharpe Ratio is 1.27, which is lower than the KORU Sharpe Ratio of 8.14. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of OILU and KORU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

OILU vs. KORU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OILU drawdown since its inception was -81.00%, smaller than the maximum KORU drawdown of -95.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OILU and KORU.

Drawdown Indicators

	OILU	KORU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-81.00%	-95.79%	+14.79%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-33.51%	-61.39%	+27.88%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-69.09%	-73.34%	+4.25%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-93.34%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-95.79%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-51.36%	-34.79%	-16.57%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-50.54%	-57.47%	+6.93%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	14.12%	20.50%	-6.38%

Volatility

OILU vs. KORU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETN (OILU) is 21.88%, while Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares (KORU) has a volatility of 79.83%. This indicates that OILU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than KORU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	OILU	KORU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	21.88%	79.83%	-57.95%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	50.72%	128.97%	-78.25%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	62.50%	137.05%	-74.55%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	81.07%	88.96%	-7.89%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	81.07%	81.96%	-0.89%

OILU vs. KORU - Expense Ratio Comparison

OILU has a 0.95% expense ratio, which is lower than KORU's 1.29% expense ratio.

Dividends

OILU vs. KORU - Dividend Comparison

OILU has not paid dividends to shareholders, while KORU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.20%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
KORU Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares	0.20%	0.89%	4.10%	2.55%	0.48%	0.76%	0.01%	0.93%	1.40%	3.59%
OILU MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETN	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both OILU and KORU in my portfolio?

OILU and KORU have a correlation of 0.01, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, OILU or KORU?

KORU has higher volatility (79.83%) compared to OILU (21.88%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OILU dropped -81.00% vs KORU's -95.79%.

Which ETF is better, OILU or KORU?

On 3-year performance, KORU leads with 98.37% vs 6.45% for OILU. On fees, OILU is cheaper at 0.95% per year. On volatility, OILU has been the lower-risk option at 21.88%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, OILU or KORU?

Over the 3-year period, KORU has performed better with a 98.37% return vs 6.45%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, OILU or KORU?

OILU is cheaper with a 0.95% expense ratio, compared with 1.29% for KORU.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, OILU or KORU?

KORU has the higher dividend yield at 0.20%, compared with 0.00% for OILU.

What is the main difference between OILU and KORU?

OILU is categorized as Leveraged Commodities, while KORU is Leveraged Equities. They also come from different issuers: BMO and Direxion. Their fees differ too: 0.95% for OILU and 1.29% for KORU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

KORU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (8.14 vs 1.27), 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.