SHYL vs. USSG
SHYL (Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF) and USSG (Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SHYL is a High Yield Bonds fund tracking the Solactive USD High Yield Corporates Total Market 0-5 Year Index, while USSG is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA ESG Leaders. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SHYL returned 4.82%/yr vs 13.00%/yr for USSG. A 0.70 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SHYL charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for USSG.
Performance
SHYL vs. USSG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SHYL achieves a 1.35% return, which is significantly lower than USSG's 7.35% return.
SHYL
- 1D
- -0.01%
- 1M
- 0.36%
- YTD
- 1.35%
- 6M
- 1.42%
- 1Y
- 5.22%
- 3Y*
- 8.43%
- 5Y*
- 4.82%
- 10Y*
- —
USSG
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- -1.46%
- YTD
- 7.35%
- 6M
- 5.87%
- 1Y
- 22.89%
- 3Y*
- 20.98%
- 5Y*
- 13.00%
- 10Y*
- —
SHYL vs. USSG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SHYL Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF | 1.35% | 7.78% | 8.52% | 11.39% | -5.21% | 4.60% | 3.64% | 4.95% |
USSG Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF | 7.35% | 18.97% | 23.45% | 29.17% | -20.33% | 31.83% | 18.71% | 19.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between SHYL and USSG is 0.68, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 7, 2019 | 0.70 |
The correlation between SHYL and USSG has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.62 to 0.70 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SHYL vs. USSG — Risk / Return Rank
SHYL
USSG
SHYL vs. USSG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF (SHYL) and Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| SHYL | USSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.30 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.29 | 2.05 | +1.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.88 | 8.63 | +4.25 |
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Drawdowns
SHYL vs. USSG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SHYL drawdown since its inception was -19.26%, smaller than the maximum USSG drawdown of -34.10%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SHYL and USSG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SHYL | USSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.26% | -34.10% | +14.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.59% | -11.20% | +9.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.73% | -20.00% | +15.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.60% | -27.00% | +17.40% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.19% | -3.16% | +2.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.53% | -5.57% | +4.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.41% | 2.66% | -2.25% |
Volatility
SHYL vs. USSG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF (SHYL) is 0.74%, while Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) has a volatility of 5.28%. This indicates that SHYL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USSG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SHYL | USSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.74% | 5.28% | -4.54% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.50% | 10.91% | -8.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.21% | 13.69% | -10.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.85% | 17.70% | -11.85% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.67% | 20.16% | -13.49% |
SHYL vs. USSG - Expense Ratio Comparison
SHYL has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than USSG's 0.10% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SHYL vs. USSG - Dividend Comparison
SHYL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.92%, more than USSG's 1.01% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SHYL Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF | 6.92% | 7.02% | 7.26% | 6.60% | 5.52% | 4.65% | 6.16% | 5.93% | 5.54% |
USSG Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF | 1.01% | 1.02% | 1.13% | 1.60% | 1.52% | 1.13% | 1.42% | 1.21% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SHYL and USSG have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
USSG has higher volatility (5.28%) compared to SHYL (0.74%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SHYL dropped -19.26% vs USSG's -34.10%.
On 5-year performance, USSG leads with 13.00% vs 4.82% for SHYL. On fees, USSG is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, SHYL has been the lower-risk option at 0.74%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, USSG has performed better with a 13.00% return vs 4.82%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
USSG is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for SHYL.
SHYL has the higher dividend yield at 6.92%, compared with 1.01% for USSG.
SHYL is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while USSG is Large Cap Growth Equities. SHYL tracks Solactive USD High Yield Corporates Total Market 0-5 Year Index, while USSG tracks MSCI USA ESG Leaders. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for SHYL and 0.10% for USSG.
USSG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.68 vs 1.63), 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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