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QDEF vs. USO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

QDEF vs. USO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

QDEF (FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - QDEF is a Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, QDEF returned 12.34%/yr vs 4.07%/yr for USO. At a 0.21 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. QDEF charges 0.37%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.

Performance

QDEF vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QDEF achieves a 8.81% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 103.67% return. Over the past 10 years, QDEF has outperformed USO with an annualized return of 12.34%, while USO has yielded a comparatively lower 4.07% annualized return.

QDEF

1D
-0.47%
1M
3.94%
YTD
8.81%
6M
8.87%
1Y
23.31%
3Y*
19.60%
5Y*
12.64%
10Y*
12.34%

USO

1D
2.62%
1M
-4.57%
YTD
103.67%
6M
99.35%
1Y
101.55%
3Y*
29.98%
5Y*
24.41%
10Y*
4.07%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

QDEF vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
QDEF
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund		8.81%17.43%21.19%17.48%-10.94%26.04%3.15%24.90%-4.10%17.04%
USO
United States Oil Fund LP		103.67%-8.46%13.35%-4.94%28.97%64.68%-67.79%32.61%-19.57%2.47%

Correlation

The correlation between QDEF and USO is -0.29, 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

-0.29

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

-0.08

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.06

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.17

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 20, 2012

0.21

The correlation between QDEF and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.29 (1 year) to 0.21 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund

United States Oil Fund LP

Often compared with QDEF:
QDEF vs. QDFQDEF vs. SCHDQDEF vs. DGRWQDEF vs. ^SP500TRQDEF vs. SCHBQDEF vs. USMVQDEF vs. COWZ
Often compared with USO:
USO vs. XLEUSO vs. BNOUSO vs. UCOUSO vs. USLUSO vs. OILKUSO vs. DBOUSO vs. WTI

Return for Risk

QDEF vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
QDEF
QDEF Risk / Return Rank: 7373
Overall Rank
QDEF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7474
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QDEF Sortino Ratio Rank: 7676
Sortino Ratio Rank
QDEF Omega Ratio Rank: 7575
Omega Ratio Rank
QDEF Calmar Ratio Rank: 6767
Calmar Ratio Rank
QDEF Martin Ratio Rank: 7676
Martin Ratio Rank
USO
USO Risk / Return Rank: 6666
Overall Rank
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6969
Sharpe Ratio Rank
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6060
Sortino Ratio Rank
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 6161
Omega Ratio Rank
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 8787
Calmar Ratio Rank
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 5454
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

QDEF vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO). 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.

QDEFUSODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.44
2.31

+0.13

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.46
2.89

+0.57

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.45

1.38

+0.07

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.37

5.01

-1.64

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

14.62

9.42

+5.20

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QDEF vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QDEF Sharpe Ratio is 2.44, which is comparable to the USO Sharpe Ratio of 2.31. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QDEF and USO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

QDEFUSODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.44

2.31

+0.13

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.92

0.68

+0.24

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.77

0.10

+0.66

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.84

-0.18

+1.02

Drawdowns

QDEF vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QDEF drawdown since its inception was -35.74%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QDEF and USO.

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Drawdown Indicators

QDEFUSODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-35.74%

-98.19%

+62.45%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-6.95%

-20.39%

+13.44%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.43%

-26.05%

+11.62%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-21.37%

-36.23%

+14.86%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-35.74%

-86.75%

+51.01%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.47%

-85.01%

+84.54%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.29%

-75.30%

+72.01%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.60%

10.82%

-9.22%

Volatility

QDEF vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) is 2.31%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 14.87%. This indicates that QDEF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

QDEFUSODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

2.31%

14.87%

-12.56%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

7.16%

38.23%

-31.07%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

9.62%

44.20%

-34.58%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

13.78%

36.06%

-22.28%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

16.17%

39.00%

-22.83%

QDEF vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison

QDEF has a 0.37% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.

Dividends

QDEF vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

QDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.59%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
QDEF
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund		1.59%1.74%1.85%2.21%2.42%1.84%2.50%3.17%7.10%2.70%2.90%3.00%
USO
United States Oil Fund LP		0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

QDEF and USO have a correlation of -0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

USO has higher volatility (14.87%) compared to QDEF (2.31%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QDEF dropped -35.74% vs USO's -98.19%.

On 10-year performance, QDEF leads with 12.34% vs 4.07% for USO. On fees, QDEF is cheaper at 0.37% per year. On volatility, QDEF has been the lower-risk option at 2.31%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, QDEF has performed better with a 12.34% return vs 4.07%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

QDEF is cheaper with a 0.37% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.

QDEF has the higher dividend yield at 1.59%, compared with 0.00% for USO.

QDEF is categorized as Large Cap Value Equities, while USO is Oil & Gas. QDEF tracks Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index, while USO tracks Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: FlexShares and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.37% for QDEF and 0.86% for USO.

QDEF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.44 vs 2.31), 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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