UUP vs. BOXX

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

UUP (Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund) and BOXX (Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - UUP is a Currency fund tracking the Deutsche Bank Long US Dollar Index (USDX) Futures Index, while BOXX is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the Solactive 1-3 Month US T-Bill Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, UUP returned 4.21%/yr vs 4.72%/yr for BOXX. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. UUP charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for BOXX.

Performance

UUP vs. BOXX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) and Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF (BOXX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, UUP achieves a 3.70% return, which is significantly higher than BOXX's 1.60% return.

UUP

• 1D: 0.04%
• 1M: 2.52%
• YTD: 3.70%
• 6M: 3.08%
• 1Y: 5.64%
• 3Y*: 4.21%
• 5Y*: 6.04%
• 10Y*: 3.19%

BOXX

• 1D: -0.01%
• 1M: 0.25%
• YTD: 1.60%
• 6M: 1.94%
• 1Y: 4.04%
• 3Y*: 4.72%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

UUP vs. BOXX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
UUP Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund	3.70%	-4.99%	13.50%	3.63%	-0.93%
BOXX Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF	1.60%	4.37%	5.16%	5.04%	0.07%

Correlation

The correlation between UUP and BOXX is -0.01, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.01
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.01
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 29, 2022	0.01

UUP vs. BOXX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	UUP	BOXX
Financial Services	97.4%	12.3%
Basic Materials	-	1.9%
Communication Services	-	10.7%
Consumer Cyclical	-	10.1%
Consumer Defensive	-	5.4%
Energy	-	3.5%
Healthcare	-	9.8%
Industrials	-	8.7%
Real Estate	-	2.0%
Technology	-	33.1%
Utilities	-	2.5%

Return for Risk

UUP vs. BOXX — Risk / Return Rank

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

UUP

UUP Risk / Return Rank: 29
UUP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 28
UUP Sortino Ratio Rank: 27
UUP Omega Ratio Rank: 26
UUP Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
UUP Martin Ratio Rank: 31

BOXX

BOXX Risk / Return Rank: 100
BOXX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
BOXX Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
BOXX Omega Ratio Rank: 100
BOXX Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
BOXX Martin Ratio Rank: 100

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.

UUP vs. BOXX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) and Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF (BOXX). 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.

	UUP	BOXX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.93	12.68	-11.75
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.34	37.40	-36.06
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.16	9.69	-8.53
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.55	58.95	-57.40
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.13	524.63	-520.50
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

UUP vs. BOXX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UUP Sharpe Ratio is 0.93, which is lower than the BOXX Sharpe Ratio of 12.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UUP and BOXX, 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

	UUP	BOXX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.93	12.68	-11.75
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.84	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.46	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.20	12.89	-12.69

Drawdowns

UUP vs. BOXX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UUP drawdown since its inception was -22.19%, which is greater than BOXX's maximum drawdown of -0.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UUP and BOXX.

Drawdown Indicators

	UUP	BOXX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-22.19%	-0.12%	-22.07%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.65%	-0.07%	-3.58%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-10.05%	-0.12%	-9.93%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-10.37%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-14.24%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.89%	-0.01%	-2.88%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.91%	-0.00%	-8.91%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.37%	0.01%	+1.36%

Volatility

UUP vs. BOXX - Volatility Comparison

Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) has a higher volatility of 1.23% compared to Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF (BOXX) at 0.09%. This indicates that UUP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BOXX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UUP	BOXX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.23%	0.09%	+1.14%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.25%	0.25%	+4.00%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.09%	0.32%	+5.77%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.22%	0.37%	+6.85%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	6.96%	0.37%	+6.59%

UUP vs. BOXX - Expense Ratio Comparison

UUP has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is higher than BOXX's 0.19% expense ratio.

Dividends

UUP vs. BOXX - Dividend Comparison

UUP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.31%, while BOXX has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BOXX Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.26%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
UUP Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund	3.31%	3.43%	4.48%	6.44%	0.89%	0.00%	0.00%	2.03%	1.08%	0.10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UUP and BOXX in my portfolio?

UUP and BOXX have a correlation of -0.01, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UUP or BOXX?

UUP has higher volatility (1.23%) compared to BOXX (0.09%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UUP dropped -22.19% vs BOXX's -0.12%.

Which ETF is better, UUP or BOXX?

On 3-year performance, BOXX leads with 4.72% vs 4.21% for UUP. On fees, BOXX is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, BOXX has been the lower-risk option at 0.09%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, UUP or BOXX?

Over the 3-year period, BOXX has performed better with a 4.72% return vs 4.21%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, UUP or BOXX?

BOXX is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for UUP.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, UUP or BOXX?

UUP has the higher dividend yield at 3.31%, compared with 0.00% for BOXX.

What is the main difference between UUP and BOXX?

UUP is categorized as Currency, while BOXX is Ultrashort Bond. UUP tracks Deutsche Bank Long US Dollar Index (USDX) Futures Index, while BOXX tracks Solactive 1-3 Month US T-Bill Index. They also come from different issuers: Invesco and Alpha Architect. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for UUP and 0.19% for BOXX.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BOXX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (12.68 vs 0.93), 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.