TUGN vs. CAOS

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

TUGN (STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF) and CAOS (Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - TUGN is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Shelton, while CAOS is a Options Trading fund actively managed by Alpha Architect. Both are actively managed. Over the past 3 years, TUGN returned 18.97%/yr vs 3.48%/yr for CAOS. Their 0.02 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. TUGN charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.63%/yr for CAOS.

Performance

TUGN vs. CAOS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN) and Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TUGN achieves a 13.24% return, which is significantly higher than CAOS's 0.76% return.

TUGN

• 1D: 0.66%
• 1M: -2.22%
• 6M: 12.66%
• YTD: 13.24%
• 1Y: 23.97%
• 3Y*: 18.97%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 14.24%

CAOS

• 1D: -0.06%
• 1M: -0.01%
• 6M: 0.16%
• YTD: 0.76%
• 1Y: 1.73%
• 3Y*: 3.48%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 4.70%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
CAOS Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF	$6.81M	$5.39M	$5.09M
TUGN STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF	$660.87K	$739.29K	$807.07K

TUGN vs. CAOS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
TUGN STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF	13.24%	19.11%	18.44%	28.45%
CAOS Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF	0.76%	2.55%	5.33%	7.43%

Correlation

The correlation between TUGN and CAOS is -0.33, meaning they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. This relationship can weaken or reverse as market conditions change.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	-0.33
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	-0.08
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 6, 2023	0.02

The correlation between TUGN and CAOS shifts across timeframes, from -0.33 (1 year) to 0.02 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

TUGN vs. CAOS — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

TUGN

TUGN Risk / Return Rank: 47
TUGN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
TUGN Sortino Ratio Rank: 46
TUGN Omega Ratio Rank: 47
TUGN Calmar Ratio Rank: 46
TUGN Martin Ratio Rank: 46

CAOS

CAOS Risk / Return Rank: 56
CAOS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 49
CAOS Sortino Ratio Rank: 55
CAOS Omega Ratio Rank: 54
CAOS Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
CAOS Martin Ratio Rank: 48

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

TUGN vs. CAOS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN) and Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS). 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.

	TUGN	CAOS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.18	1.19	-0.01
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.68	1.89	-0.21
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.21	1.24	-0.03
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.63	2.47	-0.84
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.22	5.45	-0.23

TUGN vs. CAOS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TUGN Sharpe Ratio is 1.18, which is comparable to the CAOS Sharpe Ratio of 1.19. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TUGN and CAOS, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

TUGN vs. CAOS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TUGN drawdown since its inception was -23.45%, which is greater than CAOS's maximum drawdown of -3.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TUGN and CAOS.

Drawdown Indicators

	TUGN	CAOS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-23.45%	-3.89%	-19.56%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.96%	-0.76%	-12.20%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-21.60%	-3.60%	-18.00%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.40%	-1.13%	-4.27%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.32%	-0.92%	-5.40%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.05%	0.34%	+3.71%

Volatility

TUGN vs. CAOS - Volatility Comparison

STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (TUGN) has a higher volatility of 5.97% compared to Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS) at 0.51%. This indicates that TUGN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CAOS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	TUGN	CAOS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.97%	0.51%	+5.46%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.78%	1.07%	+13.71%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.86%	1.57%	+16.29%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.41%	4.18%	+13.23%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.41%	4.18%	+13.23%

TUGN vs. CAOS - Expense Ratio Comparison

TUGN has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than CAOS's 0.63% expense ratio.

Dividends

TUGN vs. CAOS - Dividend Comparison

TUGN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.52%, while CAOS has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
CAOS Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
TUGN STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF	11.52%	11.50%	11.84%	10.83%	7.58%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TUGN and CAOS in my portfolio?

TUGN and CAOS have a correlation of -0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TUGN or CAOS?

TUGN has higher volatility (5.97%) compared to CAOS (0.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TUGN dropped -23.45% vs CAOS's -3.89%.

Which ETF is better, TUGN or CAOS?

On 3-year performance, TUGN leads with 18.97% vs 3.48% for CAOS. On fees, CAOS is cheaper at 0.63% per year. On volatility, CAOS has been the lower-risk option at 0.51%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, TUGN or CAOS?

Over the 3-year period, TUGN has performed better with a 18.97% return vs 3.48%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, TUGN or CAOS?

CAOS is cheaper with a 0.63% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for TUGN.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, TUGN or CAOS?

TUGN has the higher dividend yield at 11.52%, compared with 0.00% for CAOS.

What is the main difference between TUGN and CAOS?

TUGN is categorized as Diversified Portfolio, while CAOS is Options Trading. They also come from different issuers: Shelton and Alpha Architect. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for TUGN and 0.63% for CAOS.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

CAOS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.19 vs 1.18), 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.