PCLO vs. AAUS

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

PCLO (Virtus SEIX AAA Private Credit CLO ETF) and AAUS (Alpha Architect US Equity ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PCLO is a CLO fund actively managed by Virtus, while AAUS is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Alpha Architect. Both are actively managed. At a correlation of -0.06, they often move in opposite directions. PCLO charges 0.29%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for AAUS.

Performance

PCLO vs. AAUS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Virtus SEIX AAA Private Credit CLO ETF (PCLO) and Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PCLO achieves a 1.97% return, which is significantly lower than AAUS's 9.48% return.

PCLO

• 1D: 0.08%
• 1M: 0.42%
• YTD: 1.97%
• 6M: 2.29%
• 1Y: 5.30%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

AAUS

• 1D: -0.74%
• 1M: 4.93%
• YTD: 9.48%
• 6M: 9.33%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

PCLO vs. AAUS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
PCLO Virtus SEIX AAA Private Credit CLO ETF	1.97%	2.52%
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	9.48%	9.66%

Correlation

The correlation between PCLO and AAUS is -0.06, 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 (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 24, 2025	-0.06

Return for Risk

PCLO vs. AAUS — Risk / Return Rank

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

PCLO

PCLO Risk / Return Rank: 99
PCLO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
PCLO Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
PCLO Omega Ratio Rank: 99
PCLO Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
PCLO Martin Ratio Rank: 99

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.

PCLO vs. AAUS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus SEIX AAA Private Credit CLO ETF (PCLO) and Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS). 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.

	PCLO	AAUS	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	5.94	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	10.34	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.76	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	20.27	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	123.68	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PCLO	AAUS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.94	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	4.62	1.90	+2.72

Drawdowns

PCLO vs. AAUS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PCLO drawdown since its inception was -0.76%, smaller than the maximum AAUS drawdown of -9.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PCLO and AAUS.

Drawdown Indicators

	PCLO	AAUS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.76%	-9.13%	+8.37%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.26%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.74%	+0.74%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.03%	-1.31%	+1.28%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.04%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	PCLO	AAUS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.25%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.70%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.90%	12.45%	-11.55%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	1.15%	12.45%	-11.30%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	1.15%	12.45%	-11.30%

PCLO vs. AAUS - Expense Ratio Comparison

PCLO has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is higher than AAUS's 0.15% expense ratio.

Dividends

PCLO vs. AAUS - Dividend Comparison

PCLO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.27%, more than AAUS's 0.34% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
AAUS Alpha Architect US Equity ETF	0.34%	0.37%	0.00%
PCLO Virtus SEIX AAA Private Credit CLO ETF	5.27%	5.53%	0.44%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PCLO and AAUS in my portfolio?

PCLO and AAUS have a correlation of -0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, PCLO or AAUS?

On fees, AAUS is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, PCLO or AAUS?

AAUS is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.29% for PCLO.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, PCLO or AAUS?

PCLO has the higher dividend yield at 5.27%, compared with 0.34% for AAUS.

What is the main difference between PCLO and AAUS?

PCLO is categorized as CLO, while AAUS is Large Cap Blend Equities. They also come from different issuers: Virtus and Alpha Architect. Their fees differ too: 0.29% for PCLO and 0.15% for AAUS.