SCUS vs. CMCI

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SCUS (Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF) and CMCI (VanEck CMCI Commodity Strategy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SCUS is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by Charles Schwab, while CMCI is a Commodities fund tracking the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Composite Total Return Index. SCUS is actively managed, while CMCI is passively managed. Over the past year, SCUS returned 4.17% vs 30.85% for CMCI. At a correlation of -0.10, they often move in opposite directions. SCUS charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.65%/yr for CMCI.

Performance

SCUS vs. CMCI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF (SCUS) and VanEck CMCI Commodity Strategy ETF (CMCI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SCUS achieves a 1.43% return, which is significantly lower than CMCI's 23.01% return.

SCUS

• 1D: -0.02%
• 1M: 0.37%
• YTD: 1.43%
• 6M: 1.78%
• 1Y: 4.17%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

CMCI

• 1D: -0.31%
• 1M: -0.41%
• YTD: 23.01%
• 6M: 23.83%
• 1Y: 30.85%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

SCUS vs. CMCI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
SCUS Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF	1.43%	4.51%	2.06%
CMCI VanEck CMCI Commodity Strategy ETF	23.01%	7.90%	4.45%

Correlation

The correlation between SCUS and CMCI is -0.13, 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	-0.13
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 14, 2024	-0.10

Return for Risk

SCUS vs. CMCI — Risk / Return Rank

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

SCUS

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

CMCI

CMCI Risk / Return Rank: 81
CMCI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
CMCI Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
CMCI Omega Ratio Rank: 77
CMCI Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
CMCI Martin Ratio Rank: 81

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.

SCUS vs. CMCI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF (SCUS) and VanEck CMCI Commodity Strategy ETF (CMCI). 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.

	SCUS	CMCI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	6.28	2.54	+3.73
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	12.57	3.42	+9.15
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.76	1.46	+1.30
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	25.13	6.16	+18.97
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	111.55	16.15	+95.40
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SCUS vs. CMCI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SCUS Sharpe Ratio is 6.28, which is higher than the CMCI Sharpe Ratio of 2.54. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SCUS and CMCI, 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

	SCUS	CMCI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.28	2.54	+3.73
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	6.42	0.94	+5.48

Drawdowns

SCUS vs. CMCI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SCUS drawdown since its inception was -0.17%, smaller than the maximum CMCI drawdown of -11.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCUS and CMCI.

Drawdown Indicators

	SCUS	CMCI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.17%	-11.54%	+11.37%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.17%	-5.03%	+4.86%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.02%	-3.12%	+3.10%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.02%	-3.54%	+3.52%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.04%	1.92%	-1.88%

Volatility

SCUS vs. CMCI - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF (SCUS) is 0.20%, while VanEck CMCI Commodity Strategy ETF (CMCI) has a volatility of 4.25%. This indicates that SCUS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CMCI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SCUS	CMCI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.20%	4.25%	-4.05%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.47%	10.14%	-9.67%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.67%	12.19%	-11.52%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.70%	12.63%	-11.93%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.70%	12.63%	-11.93%

SCUS vs. CMCI - Expense Ratio Comparison

SCUS has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is lower than CMCI's 0.65% expense ratio.

Dividends

SCUS vs. CMCI - Dividend Comparison

SCUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.91%, less than CMCI's 8.04% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
CMCI VanEck CMCI Commodity Strategy ETF	8.04%	9.89%	3.93%	1.64%
SCUS Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF	3.91%	4.17%	1.62%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SCUS and CMCI in my portfolio?

SCUS and CMCI have a correlation of -0.13, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SCUS or CMCI?

CMCI has higher volatility (4.25%) compared to SCUS (0.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCUS dropped -0.17% vs CMCI's -11.54%.

Which ETF is better, SCUS or CMCI?

On 1-year performance, CMCI leads with 30.85% vs 4.17% for SCUS. On fees, SCUS is cheaper at 0.14% per year. On volatility, SCUS has been the lower-risk option at 0.20%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SCUS or CMCI?

Over the 1-year period, CMCI has performed better with a 30.85% return vs 4.17%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SCUS or CMCI?

SCUS is cheaper with a 0.14% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for CMCI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SCUS or CMCI?

CMCI has the higher dividend yield at 8.04%, compared with 3.91% for SCUS.

What is the main difference between SCUS and CMCI?

SCUS is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while CMCI is Commodities. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.14% for SCUS and 0.65% for CMCI.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SCUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (6.28 vs 2.54), 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.