VSLU vs. GSG
VSLU (Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap US ETF) and GSG (iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - VSLU is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Applied Finance, while GSG is a Commodities fund tracking the S&P GSCI Total Return Index. VSLU is actively managed, while GSG is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VSLU returned 14.17%/yr vs 15.39%/yr for GSG. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VSLU charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for GSG.
Performance
VSLU vs. GSG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSLU achieves a 6.60% return, which is significantly lower than GSG's 40.46% return.
VSLU
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 3.99%
- YTD
- 6.60%
- 6M
- 7.46%
- 1Y
- 25.46%
- 3Y*
- 22.08%
- 5Y*
- 14.17%
- 10Y*
- —
GSG
- 1D
- -1.49%
- 1M
- -5.32%
- YTD
- 40.46%
- 6M
- 38.18%
- 1Y
- 49.68%
- 3Y*
- 18.78%
- 5Y*
- 15.39%
- 10Y*
- 7.42%
VSLU vs. GSG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSLU Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap US ETF | 6.60% | 21.52% | 23.80% | 26.79% | -16.05% | 14.05% |
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 40.46% | 5.93% | 8.52% | -5.51% | 24.08% | 13.31% |
Correlation
The correlation between VSLU and GSG is -0.26, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.26 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.01 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 3, 2021 | 0.11 |
The correlation between VSLU and GSG shifts across timeframes, from -0.26 (1 year) to 0.11 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VSLU vs. GSG — Risk / Return Rank
VSLU
GSG
VSLU vs. GSG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap US ETF (VSLU) and iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG). 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.
| VSLU | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.13 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.39 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.79 | 5.28 | -2.49 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.39 | 13.78 | -1.39 |
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
| VSLU | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.04 | 2.17 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.88 | 0.68 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.34 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.87 | -0.09 | +0.96 |
Drawdowns
VSLU vs. GSG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSLU drawdown since its inception was -23.86%, smaller than the maximum GSG drawdown of -89.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSLU and GSG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSLU | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.86% | -89.62% | +65.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.16% | -9.46% | +0.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.89% | -14.94% | -2.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.86% | -29.12% | +5.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -57.64% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.52% | -57.59% | +57.07% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.89% | -63.71% | +58.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.06% | 3.62% | -1.56% |
Volatility
VSLU vs. GSG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap US ETF (VSLU) is 2.56%, while iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) has a volatility of 7.72%. This indicates that VSLU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GSG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSLU | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.56% | 7.72% | -5.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.29% | 20.48% | -11.19% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.51% | 23.01% | -10.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.19% | 22.61% | -6.42% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.13% | 22.03% | -5.90% |
VSLU vs. GSG - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSLU has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is lower than GSG's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
VSLU vs. GSG - Dividend Comparison
VSLU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.43%, while GSG has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VSLU Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap US ETF | 0.43% | 0.46% | 0.60% | 0.60% | 0.99% | 0.57% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VSLU and GSG have a correlation of -0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GSG has higher volatility (7.72%) compared to VSLU (2.56%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSLU dropped -23.86% vs GSG's -89.62%.
On 5-year performance, GSG leads with 15.39% vs 14.17% for VSLU. On fees, VSLU is cheaper at 0.49% per year. On volatility, VSLU has been the lower-risk option at 2.56%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, GSG has performed better with a 15.39% return vs 14.17%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VSLU is cheaper with a 0.49% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for GSG.
VSLU has the higher dividend yield at 0.43%, compared with 0.00% for GSG.
VSLU is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while GSG is Commodities. They also come from different issuers: Applied Finance and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for VSLU and 0.75% for GSG.
GSG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 vs 2.04), 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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