SLX vs. CPER
SLX (VanEck Vectors Steel ETF) and CPER (United States Copper Index Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - SLX is a Materials fund tracking the NYSE Arca Steel Index, while CPER is a Metals fund tracking the SummerHaven Copper Index Total Return. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SLX returned 19.86%/yr vs 11.24%/yr for CPER. At a 0.48 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SLX charges 0.56%/yr vs 1.06%/yr for CPER.
Performance
SLX vs. CPER - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SLX achieves a 33.83% return, which is significantly higher than CPER's 16.13% return. Over the past 10 years, SLX has outperformed CPER with an annualized return of 19.86%, while CPER has yielded a comparatively lower 11.24% annualized return.
SLX
- 1D
- 1.74%
- 1M
- 9.78%
- YTD
- 33.83%
- 6M
- 41.91%
- 1Y
- 80.96%
- 3Y*
- 27.16%
- 5Y*
- 16.60%
- 10Y*
- 19.86%
CPER
- 1D
- 1.60%
- 1M
- 12.06%
- YTD
- 16.13%
- 6M
- 26.32%
- 1Y
- 33.68%
- 3Y*
- 20.89%
- 5Y*
- 8.13%
- 10Y*
- 11.24%
SLX vs. CPER - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SLX VanEck Vectors Steel ETF | 33.83% | 47.45% | -17.94% | 31.25% | 14.28% | 27.69% | 20.57% | 12.01% | -19.27% | 24.59% |
CPER United States Copper Index Fund | 16.13% | 38.95% | 4.23% | 4.55% | -15.14% | 25.21% | 23.90% | 6.66% | -21.91% | 28.80% |
Correlation
The correlation between SLX and CPER is 0.54, 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 | 0.54 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.54 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 16, 2011 | 0.48 |
The correlation between SLX and CPER has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.48 to 0.54 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SLX vs. CPER — Risk / Return Rank
SLX
CPER
SLX vs. CPER - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Vectors Steel ETF (SLX) and United States Copper Index Fund (CPER). 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.
| SLX | CPER | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 3.41 | 0.99 | +2.42 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 4.20 | 1.34 | +2.86 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.54 | 1.23 | +0.31 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.29 | 1.55 | +3.74 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 18.53 | 3.21 | +15.32 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SLX | CPER | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.41 | 0.99 | +2.42 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.60 | 0.30 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.64 | 0.47 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.22 | 0.14 | +0.08 |
Drawdowns
SLX vs. CPER - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SLX drawdown since its inception was -82.14%, which is greater than CPER's maximum drawdown of -54.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SLX and CPER.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SLX | CPER | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -82.14% | -54.04% | -28.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.35% | -24.77% | +8.42% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.39% | -24.77% | -2.62% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.62% | -34.75% | +1.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -61.64% | -38.42% | -23.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -38.73% | -25.41% | -13.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.67% | 11.92% | -7.25% |
Volatility
SLX vs. CPER - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for VanEck Vectors Steel ETF (SLX) is 7.85%, while United States Copper Index Fund (CPER) has a volatility of 9.37%. This indicates that SLX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CPER based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SLX | CPER | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.85% | 9.37% | -1.52% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.87% | 22.64% | -4.77% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.04% | 34.51% | -10.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.72% | 26.97% | +0.75% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 31.03% | 24.03% | +7.00% |
SLX vs. CPER - Expense Ratio Comparison
SLX has a 0.56% expense ratio, which is lower than CPER's 1.06% expense ratio.
Dividends
SLX vs. CPER - Dividend Comparison
SLX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.16%, while CPER has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CPER United States Copper Index Fund | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SLX VanEck Vectors Steel ETF | 1.16% | 1.55% | 3.56% | 2.80% | 4.97% | 7.07% | 1.87% | 3.44% | 6.26% | 2.50% | 1.06% | 5.35% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SLX and CPER have a correlation of 0.54, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CPER has higher volatility (9.37%) compared to SLX (7.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SLX dropped -82.14% vs CPER's -54.04%.
On 10-year performance, SLX leads with 19.86% vs 11.24% for CPER. On fees, SLX is cheaper at 0.56% per year. On volatility, SLX has been the lower-risk option at 7.85%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SLX has performed better with a 19.86% return vs 11.24%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SLX is cheaper with a 0.56% expense ratio, compared with 1.06% for CPER.
SLX has the higher dividend yield at 1.16%, compared with 0.00% for CPER.
SLX is categorized as Materials, while CPER is Metals. SLX tracks NYSE Arca Steel Index, while CPER tracks SummerHaven Copper Index Total Return. They also come from different issuers: VanEck and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.56% for SLX and 1.06% for CPER.
SLX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.41 vs 0.99), 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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