VFMV vs. USML

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF (VFMV) and ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Minimum Volatility Factor TR ETN (USML).

VFMV and USML are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VFMV is an actively managed fund by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 13, 2018. USML is a passively managed fund by UBS that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index. It was launched on Feb 4, 2021.

Performance

VFMV vs. USML - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF (VFMV) and ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Minimum Volatility Factor TR ETN (USML). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VFMV vs. USML - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
VFMV Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF	2.55%	10.52%	16.91%	8.86%	-5.73%	16.97%
USML ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Minimum Volatility Factor TR ETN	-4.08%	9.33%	23.97%	11.37%	-22.87%	42.12%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VFMV achieves a 2.55% return, which is significantly higher than USML's -4.08% return.

VFMV

• 1D: 1.45%
• 1M: -4.47%
• YTD: 2.55%
• 6M: 2.66%
• 1Y: 7.33%
• 3Y*: 12.70%
• 5Y*: 9.24%
• 10Y*: —

USML

• 1D: 2.10%
• 1M: -9.94%
• YTD: -4.08%
• 6M: -6.40%
• 1Y: -5.09%
• 3Y*: 12.95%
• 5Y*: 8.41%
• 10Y*: —

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

VFMV vs. USML - Expense Ratio Comparison

VFMV has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is lower than USML's 0.95% expense ratio.

USML

ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Minimum Volatility Factor TR ETN

VFMV

Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF

Return for Risk

VFMV vs. USML — Risk / Return Rank

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

VFMV

VFMV Risk / Return Rank: 37
VFMV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
VFMV Sortino Ratio Rank: 33
VFMV Omega Ratio Rank: 33
VFMV Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
VFMV Martin Ratio Rank: 45

USML

USML Risk / Return Rank: 8
USML Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8
USML Sortino Ratio Rank: 8
USML Omega Ratio Rank: 8
USML Calmar Ratio Rank: 9
USML Martin Ratio Rank: 6

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.

VFMV vs. USML - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF (VFMV) and ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Minimum Volatility Factor TR ETN (USML). 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.

	VFMV	USML	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.60	-0.21	+0.81
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.90	-0.13	+1.03
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.13	0.98	+0.15
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.87	-0.20	+1.06
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	4.02	-0.80	+4.82
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VFMV vs. USML - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFMV Sharpe Ratio is 0.60, which is higher than the USML Sharpe Ratio of -0.21. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFMV and USML, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VFMV	USML	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.60	-0.21	+0.81
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.79	0.34	+0.44
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.65	0.38	+0.27

Correlation

The correlation between VFMV and USML is 0.92, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

VFMV vs. USML - Dividend Comparison

VFMV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.04%, while USML has not paid dividends to shareholders.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
VFMV Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF	2.04%	2.12%	1.46%	2.20%	2.08%	1.31%	2.14%	2.43%	2.29%
USML ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Minimum Volatility Factor TR ETN	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

VFMV vs. USML - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFMV drawdown since its inception was -33.64%, roughly equal to the maximum USML drawdown of -35.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFMV and USML.

Drawdown Indicators

	VFMV	USML	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.64%	-35.34%	+1.70%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.63%	-17.38%	+7.75%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-15.41%	-35.34%	+19.93%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.59%	-10.28%	+5.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.69%	-10.54%	+6.85%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.07%	4.25%	-2.18%

Volatility

VFMV vs. USML - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF (VFMV) is 3.44%, while ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Minimum Volatility Factor TR ETN (USML) has a volatility of 5.94%. This indicates that VFMV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USML based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VFMV	USML	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.44%	5.94%	-2.50%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.62%	12.05%	-5.43%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.31%	24.47%	-12.16%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.77%	24.55%	-12.78%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.35%	24.54%	-10.19%