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RFG vs. USO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

RFG vs. USO

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

RFG (Invesco S&P MidCap 400® Pure Growth ETF) and USO (United States Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - RFG is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the S&P Mid Cap 400 Pure Growth, while USO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, RFG returned 10.42%/yr vs 3.80%/yr for USO. At a 0.27 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. RFG charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for USO.

Performance

RFG vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Invesco S&P MidCap 400® Pure Growth ETF (RFG) 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, RFG achieves a 21.39% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 98.48% return. Over the past 10 years, RFG has outperformed USO with an annualized return of 10.42%, while USO has yielded a comparatively lower 3.80% annualized return.

RFG

1D
0.70%
1M
6.34%
YTD
21.39%
6M
22.20%
1Y
33.68%
3Y*
20.33%
5Y*
8.66%
10Y*
10.42%

USO

1D
1.31%
1M
-3.87%
YTD
98.48%
6M
95.54%
1Y
97.37%
3Y*
28.86%
5Y*
23.92%
10Y*
3.80%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

RFG vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
RFG
Invesco S&P MidCap 400® Pure Growth ETF		21.39%8.80%17.80%16.42%-21.70%13.81%32.86%17.09%-13.98%20.46%
USO
United States Oil Fund LP		98.48%-8.46%13.35%-4.94%28.97%64.68%-67.79%32.61%-19.57%2.47%

Correlation

The correlation between RFG and USO is -0.27, 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

-0.27

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

0.02

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

0.14

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

0.20

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 11, 2006

0.27

The correlation between RFG and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.27 (1 year) to 0.27 (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.

Invesco S&P MidCap 400® Pure Growth ETF

United States Oil Fund LP

Often compared with RFG:
RFG vs. RFVRFG vs. IVOGRFG vs. SPMDRFG vs. FRTYRFG vs. FDISRFG vs. VOTRFG vs. IMCG
Often compared with USO:
USO vs. XLEUSO vs. BNOUSO vs. UCOUSO vs. USLUSO vs. OILKUSO vs. DBOUSO vs. WTI

Return for Risk

RFG vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
RFG
RFG Risk / Return Rank: 5858
Overall Rank
RFG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5353
Sharpe Ratio Rank
RFG Sortino Ratio Rank: 5353
Sortino Ratio Rank
RFG Omega Ratio Rank: 4949
Omega Ratio Rank
RFG Calmar Ratio Rank: 6464
Calmar Ratio Rank
RFG Martin Ratio Rank: 7070
Martin Ratio Rank
USO
USO Risk / Return Rank: 6666
Overall Rank
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6666
Sharpe Ratio Rank
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5959
Sortino Ratio Rank
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 6161
Omega Ratio Rank
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 8888
Calmar Ratio Rank
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 5555
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.

RFG vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco S&P MidCap 400® Pure Growth ETF (RFG) 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.

RFGUSODifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.83

2.22

-0.39

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

2.60

2.81

-0.21

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.31

1.37

-0.06

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

3.26

5.12

-1.86

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

13.24

9.66

+3.58

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

RFG vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current RFG Sharpe Ratio is 1.83, which is comparable to the USO Sharpe Ratio of 2.22. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of RFG 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

RFGUSODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.83

2.22

-0.39

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.38

0.67

-0.29

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.45

0.10

+0.36

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.43

-0.18

+0.61

Drawdowns

RFG vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RFG drawdown since its inception was -51.93%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RFG and USO.

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Drawdown Indicators

RFGUSODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-51.93%

-98.19%

+46.26%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-10.41%

-20.39%

+9.98%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-26.71%

-26.05%

-0.66%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-35.16%

-36.23%

+1.07%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-42.92%

-86.75%

+43.83%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

-85.39%

+85.39%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.97%

-75.30%

+66.33%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.56%

10.81%

-8.25%

Volatility

RFG vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Invesco S&P MidCap 400® Pure Growth ETF (RFG) is 6.52%, while United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a volatility of 15.03%. This indicates that RFG 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

RFGUSODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

6.52%

15.03%

-8.51%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

14.76%

38.18%

-23.42%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

18.52%

44.26%

-25.74%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

22.81%

36.04%

-13.23%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

23.05%

39.00%

-15.95%

RFG vs. USO - Expense Ratio Comparison

RFG has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is lower than USO's 0.86% expense ratio.

Dividends

RFG vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

RFG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.32%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
RFG
Invesco S&P MidCap 400® Pure Growth ETF		0.32%0.43%0.38%0.99%0.78%0.05%0.27%0.64%0.76%0.66%0.35%0.61%
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

RFG and USO 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.

USO has higher volatility (15.03%) compared to RFG (6.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RFG dropped -51.93% vs USO's -98.19%.

On 10-year performance, RFG leads with 10.42% vs 3.80% for USO. On fees, RFG is cheaper at 0.35% per year. On volatility, RFG has been the lower-risk option at 6.52%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, RFG has performed better with a 10.42% return vs 3.80%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

RFG is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for USO.

RFG has the higher dividend yield at 0.32%, compared with 0.00% for USO.

RFG is categorized as Small Cap Growth Equities, while USO is Oil & Gas. RFG tracks S&P Mid Cap 400 Pure Growth, while USO tracks Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: Invesco and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for RFG and 0.86% for USO.

USO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.22 vs 1.83), 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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