OVS vs. DES

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

OVS (Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF) and DES (WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund) are both Small Cap Blend Equities funds. OVS is actively managed, while DES is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, OVS returned 6.01%/yr vs 5.96%/yr for DES. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. OVS charges 0.83%/yr vs 0.38%/yr for DES.

Performance

OVS vs. DES - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF (OVS) and WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund (DES). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, OVS achieves a 17.65% return, which is significantly higher than DES's 15.19% return.

OVS

• 1D: -0.98%
• 1M: 2.07%
• YTD: 17.65%
• 6M: 16.54%
• 1Y: 36.35%
• 3Y*: 16.07%
• 5Y*: 6.01%
• 10Y*: —

DES

• 1D: -1.24%
• 1M: 0.67%
• YTD: 15.19%
• 6M: 14.26%
• 1Y: 25.57%
• 3Y*: 14.17%
• 5Y*: 5.96%
• 10Y*: 8.04%

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

OVS vs. DES - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
OVS Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF	17.65%	6.15%	11.07%	17.20%	-19.99%	30.15%	12.16%	11.51%
DES WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund	15.19%	0.25%	9.93%	16.50%	-10.96%	26.51%	-4.26%	7.82%

Correlation

The correlation between OVS and DES is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.92
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.94
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.94
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 2, 2019	0.93

The correlation between OVS and DES has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.

OVS vs. DES - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	OVS	DES
Financial Services	17.0%	23.7%
Technology	15.3%	5.5%
Industrials	15.3%	13.3%
Consumer Cyclical	13.4%	14.8%
Healthcare	11.0%	1.7%
Real Estate	7.7%	9.6%
Energy	6.0%	10.7%
Basic Materials	5.2%	6.0%
Communication Services	3.6%	2.8%
Consumer Defensive	3.6%	4.3%
Utilities	2.0%	4.6%

Return for Risk

OVS vs. DES — Risk / Return Rank

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

OVS

OVS Risk / Return Rank: 64
OVS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
OVS Sortino Ratio Rank: 57
OVS Omega Ratio Rank: 52
OVS Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
OVS Martin Ratio Rank: 74

DES

DES Risk / Return Rank: 51
DES Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
DES Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
DES Omega Ratio Rank: 43
DES Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
DES Martin Ratio Rank: 55

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.

OVS vs. DES - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF (OVS) and WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund (DES). 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.

	OVS	DES	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.90	1.57	+0.34
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.71	2.36	+0.35
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.33	1.28	+0.05
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.29	3.36	+0.93
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.85	9.57	+4.28
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

OVS vs. DES - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current OVS Sharpe Ratio is 1.90, which is comparable to the DES Sharpe Ratio of 1.57. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of OVS and DES, 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

	OVS	DES	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.90	1.57	+0.34
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.26	0.31	-0.05
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.37	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.43	0.31	+0.12

Drawdowns

OVS vs. DES - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OVS drawdown since its inception was -45.09%, smaller than the maximum DES drawdown of -65.48%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OVS and DES.

Drawdown Indicators

	OVS	DES	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-45.09%	-65.48%	+20.39%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.51%	-7.64%	-0.87%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-30.49%	-25.16%	-5.33%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-30.49%	-25.16%	-5.33%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-45.65%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.98%	-1.52%	+0.54%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.35%	-9.68%	-1.67%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.63%	2.68%	-0.05%

Volatility

OVS vs. DES - Volatility Comparison

Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF (OVS) has a higher volatility of 4.58% compared to WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund (DES) at 4.19%. This indicates that OVS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DES based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	OVS	DES	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.58%	4.19%	+0.39%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.00%	11.02%	+1.98%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.27%	16.46%	+2.81%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.23%	19.57%	+3.66%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	27.47%	21.97%	+5.50%

OVS vs. DES - Expense Ratio Comparison

OVS has a 0.83% expense ratio, which is higher than DES's 0.38% expense ratio.

Dividends

OVS vs. DES - Dividend Comparison

OVS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.83%, more than DES's 2.40% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DES WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund	2.40%	2.85%	2.81%	2.65%	2.89%	2.31%	2.75%	2.68%	3.65%	2.89%	2.70%	3.09%
OVS Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF	6.83%	3.69%	4.08%	3.19%	3.43%	4.05%	1.74%	0.54%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both OVS and DES in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.92, OVS and DES move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which is riskier, OVS or DES?

OVS has higher volatility (4.58%) compared to DES (4.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OVS dropped -45.09% vs DES's -65.48%.

Which ETF is better, OVS or DES?

On 5-year performance, OVS leads with 6.01% vs 5.96% for DES. On fees, DES is cheaper at 0.38% per year. On volatility, DES has been the lower-risk option at 4.19%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, OVS or DES?

Over the 5-year period, OVS has performed better with a 6.01% return vs 5.96%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, OVS or DES?

DES is cheaper with a 0.38% expense ratio, compared with 0.83% for OVS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, OVS or DES?

OVS has the higher dividend yield at 6.83%, compared with 2.40% for DES.

What is the main difference between OVS and DES?

They also come from different issuers: Liquid Strategies and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.83% for OVS and 0.38% for DES.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

OVS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.90 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.