VUSB vs. BNO
VUSB (Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF) and BNO (United States Brent Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - VUSB is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by Vanguard, while BNO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Crude Oil Brent ICE Near Term Futures. VUSB is actively managed, while BNO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VUSB returned 3.54%/yr vs 20.89%/yr for BNO. Their -0.07 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. VUSB charges 0.10%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for BNO.
Performance
VUSB vs. BNO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUSB achieves a 1.96% return, which is significantly lower than BNO's 77.90% return.
VUSB
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.24%
- 6M
- 1.57%
- YTD
- 1.96%
- 1Y
- 4.09%
- 3Y*
- 5.25%
- 5Y*
- 3.54%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 3.37%
BNO
- 1D
- 1.45%
- 1M
- 27.00%
- 6M
- 52.90%
- YTD
- 77.90%
- 1Y
- 62.83%
- 3Y*
- 20.31%
- 5Y*
- 20.89%
- 10Y*
- 15.06%
- ALL TIME*
- 4.31%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $107.13M | $97.34M | $147.52M | |
| $68.77M | $73.10M | $81.38M |
VUSB vs. BNO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 1.96% | 5.20% | 5.68% | 5.52% | -0.36% | 0.08% |
BNO United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 77.90% | -5.44% | 9.67% | -3.43% | 35.25% | 31.92% |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSB and BNO is -0.34, 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. | -0.34 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | -0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | -0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 7, 2021 | -0.07 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between VUSB and BNO has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.07 to -0.34, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
VUSB vs. BNO — Risk / Return Rank
VUSB
BNO
VUSB vs. BNO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) and United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO). 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.
| VUSB | BNO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +5.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +8.96 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 3.04 | 1.24 | +1.80 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 11.62 | 1.70 | +9.92 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 65.56 | 5.15 | +60.41 |
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Drawdowns
VUSB vs. BNO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSB drawdown since its inception was -1.79%, smaller than the maximum BNO drawdown of -87.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSB and BNO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSB | BNO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.79% | -87.06% | +85.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.37% | -34.46% | +34.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.46% | -34.46% | +34.00% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.79% | -34.46% | +32.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -75.18% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -16.21% | +16.21% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.27% | -39.99% | +39.72% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.07% | 11.86% | -11.79% |
Volatility
VUSB vs. BNO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) is 0.16%, while United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO) has a volatility of 17.47%. This indicates that VUSB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BNO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSB | BNO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.16% | 17.47% | -17.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.57% | 40.96% | -40.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.67% | 44.54% | -43.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.84% | 36.41% | -35.57% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.82% | 36.98% | -36.16% |
VUSB vs. BNO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUSB has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than BNO's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
VUSB vs. BNO - Dividend Comparison
VUSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.34%, while BNO has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNO United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 3.95% | 4.63% | 5.16% | 4.45% | 1.56% | 0.26% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VUSB and BNO have a correlation of -0.34, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BNO has higher volatility (17.47%) compared to VUSB (0.16%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VUSB dropped -1.79% vs BNO's -87.06%.
On 5-year performance, BNO leads with 20.89% vs 3.54% for VUSB. On fees, VUSB is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, VUSB has been the lower-risk option at 0.16%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BNO has performed better with a 20.89% return vs 3.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VUSB is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for BNO.
VUSB has the higher dividend yield at 3.95%, compared with 0.00% for BNO.
VUSB is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while BNO is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and USCF. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for VUSB and 1.00% for BNO.
VUSB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (6.39 vs 1.32), 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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