WUGI vs. UGA

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

WUGI (Esoterica NextG Economy ETF) and UGA (United States Gasoline Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - WUGI is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by Esoterica, while UGA is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Unleaded Gasoline. WUGI is actively managed, while UGA is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, WUGI returned 15.56%/yr vs 22.69%/yr for UGA. At a 0.10 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. Both charge a 0.75% expense ratio.

Performance

WUGI vs. UGA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Esoterica NextG Economy ETF (WUGI) and United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, WUGI achieves a 26.73% return, which is significantly lower than UGA's 64.09% return.

WUGI

• 1D: -4.21%
• 1M: 8.44%
• YTD: 26.73%
• 6M: 26.00%
• 1Y: 44.78%
• 3Y*: 36.12%
• 5Y*: 15.56%
• 10Y*: —

UGA

• 1D: -1.12%
• 1M: -12.11%
• YTD: 64.09%
• 6M: 60.42%
• 1Y: 59.74%
• 3Y*: 18.95%
• 5Y*: 22.69%
• 10Y*: 14.31%

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

WUGI vs. UGA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
WUGI Esoterica NextG Economy ETF	26.73%	22.66%	47.14%	61.30%	-49.55%	25.18%	97.36%
UGA United States Gasoline Fund LP	64.09%	-2.00%	3.77%	1.27%	46.34%	68.49%	128.91%

Correlation

The correlation between WUGI and UGA is -0.18, 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	-0.18
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.01
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.06
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 31, 2020	0.10

The correlation between WUGI and UGA shifts across timeframes, from -0.18 (1 year) to 0.10 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

WUGI vs. UGA — Risk / Return Rank

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

WUGI

WUGI Risk / Return Rank: 51
WUGI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
WUGI Sortino Ratio Rank: 49
WUGI Omega Ratio Rank: 51
WUGI Calmar Ratio Rank: 54
WUGI Martin Ratio Rank: 50

UGA

UGA Risk / Return Rank: 55
UGA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
UGA Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
UGA Omega Ratio Rank: 49
UGA Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
UGA Martin Ratio Rank: 56

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.

WUGI vs. UGA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Esoterica NextG Economy ETF (WUGI) and United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA). 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.

	WUGI	UGA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.70	1.73	-0.03
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.26	2.25	+0.01
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.30	+0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.50	3.17	-0.66
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.09	9.39	-1.30

WUGI vs. UGA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current WUGI Sharpe Ratio is 1.70, which is comparable to the UGA Sharpe Ratio of 1.73. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of WUGI and UGA, 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

WUGI vs. UGA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum WUGI drawdown since its inception was -56.41%, smaller than the maximum UGA drawdown of -86.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WUGI and UGA.

Drawdown Indicators

	WUGI	UGA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-56.41%	-86.59%	+30.18%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-17.99%	-18.96%	+0.97%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-27.49%	-26.68%	-0.81%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-56.41%	-38.11%	-18.30%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-75.89%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.21%	-18.05%	+13.84%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-16.55%	-36.69%	+20.14%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.55%	6.43%	-0.88%

Volatility

WUGI vs. UGA - Volatility Comparison

Esoterica NextG Economy ETF (WUGI) has a higher volatility of 14.54% compared to United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA) at 9.24%. This indicates that WUGI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than UGA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	WUGI	UGA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	14.54%	9.24%	+5.30%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	23.17%	30.57%	-7.40%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	26.54%	35.22%	-8.68%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	31.28%	34.45%	-3.17%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	31.21%	37.22%	-6.01%

WUGI vs. UGA - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both WUGI and UGA have an expense ratio of 0.75%.

Dividends

WUGI vs. UGA - Dividend Comparison

WUGI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 18.02%, while UGA has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
UGA United States Gasoline Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
WUGI Esoterica NextG Economy ETF	18.02%	22.83%	4.09%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both WUGI and UGA in my portfolio?

WUGI and UGA have a correlation of -0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, WUGI or UGA?

WUGI has higher volatility (14.54%) compared to UGA (9.24%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WUGI dropped -56.41% vs UGA's -86.59%.

Which ETF is better, WUGI or UGA?

On 5-year performance, UGA leads with 22.69% vs 15.56% for WUGI. Both ETFs have the same 0.75% expense ratio. On volatility, UGA has been the lower-risk option at 9.24%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, WUGI or UGA?

Over the 5-year period, UGA has performed better with a 22.69% return vs 15.56%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, WUGI or UGA?

WUGI and UGA have the same expense ratio: 0.75% per year.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, WUGI or UGA?

WUGI has the higher dividend yield at 18.02%, compared with 0.00% for UGA.

What is the main difference between WUGI and UGA?

WUGI is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while UGA is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Esoterica and Concierge Technologies.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

UGA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.73 vs 1.70), 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.