XT vs. BNO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XT (iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF) and BNO (United States Brent Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - XT is a Technology Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Exponential Technologies Index (Net), while BNO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Brent Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XT returned 14.70%/yr vs 13.60%/yr for BNO. At a 0.18 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XT charges 0.46%/yr vs 0.90%/yr for BNO.

Performance

XT vs. BNO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF (XT) and United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XT achieves a 20.20% return, which is significantly lower than BNO's 90.47% return. Over the past 10 years, XT has outperformed BNO with an annualized return of 14.70%, while BNO has yielded a comparatively lower 13.60% annualized return.

XT

• 1D: -0.47%
• 1M: 9.47%
• YTD: 20.20%
• 6M: 20.54%
• 1Y: 45.88%
• 3Y*: 18.83%
• 5Y*: 8.42%
• 10Y*: 14.70%

BNO

• 1D: 1.99%
• 1M: -10.29%
• YTD: 90.47%
• 6M: 86.00%
• 1Y: 91.89%
• 3Y*: 27.93%
• 5Y*: 24.16%
• 10Y*: 13.60%

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

XT vs. BNO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XT iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF	20.20%	26.28%	0.29%	27.02%	-27.83%	16.43%	35.10%	30.74%	-4.93%	33.71%
BNO United States Brent Oil Fund LP	90.47%	-5.44%	9.67%	-3.43%	35.25%	62.34%	-38.23%	36.01%	-15.30%	15.43%

Correlation

The correlation between XT and BNO is -0.32, 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	-0.32
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.05
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.06
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.16
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 25, 2015	0.18

The correlation between XT and BNO shifts across timeframes, from -0.32 (1 year) to 0.18 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

XT vs. BNO — Risk / Return Rank

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

XT

XT Risk / Return Rank: 84
XT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 86
XT Sortino Ratio Rank: 84
XT Omega Ratio Rank: 79
XT Calmar Ratio Rank: 83
XT Martin Ratio Rank: 86

BNO

BNO Risk / Return Rank: 65
BNO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
BNO Sortino Ratio Rank: 56
BNO Omega Ratio Rank: 60
BNO Calmar Ratio Rank: 88
BNO Martin Ratio Rank: 55

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.

XT vs. BNO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF (XT) 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.

	XT	BNO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.89	2.23	+0.66
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.83	2.73	+1.10
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.48	1.38	+0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.41	5.17	-0.76
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	18.51	9.76	+8.75
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XT vs. BNO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XT Sharpe Ratio is 2.89, which is comparable to the BNO Sharpe Ratio of 2.23. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XT and BNO, 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

	XT	BNO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.89	2.23	+0.66
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.41	0.69	-0.28
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.73	0.37	+0.36
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.66	0.14	+0.52

Drawdowns

XT vs. BNO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XT drawdown since its inception was -34.41%, smaller than the maximum BNO drawdown of -87.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XT and BNO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XT	BNO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.41%	-87.06%	+52.65%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.45%	-17.87%	+7.42%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-22.09%	-23.75%	+1.66%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-34.41%	-33.70%	-0.71%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-34.41%	-75.18%	+40.77%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.47%	-10.29%	+9.82%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.41%	-40.17%	+32.76%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.49%	9.45%	-6.96%

Volatility

XT vs. BNO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF (XT) is 4.85%, while United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO) has a volatility of 14.22%. This indicates that XT 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.

Volatility by Period

	XT	BNO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.85%	14.22%	-9.37%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.94%	36.10%	-24.16%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.99%	41.46%	-25.47%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.76%	35.38%	-14.62%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.08%	36.68%	-16.60%

XT vs. BNO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XT has a 0.46% expense ratio, which is lower than BNO's 0.90% expense ratio.

Dividends

XT vs. BNO - Dividend Comparison

XT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.61%, while BNO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BNO United States Brent Oil Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XT iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF	6.61%	7.95%	0.66%	0.41%	0.78%	0.84%	0.77%	1.55%	1.40%	0.97%	1.37%	1.34%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XT and BNO in my portfolio?

XT and BNO have a correlation of -0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XT or BNO?

BNO has higher volatility (14.22%) compared to XT (4.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XT dropped -34.41% vs BNO's -87.06%.

Which ETF is better, XT or BNO?

On 10-year performance, XT leads with 14.70% vs 13.60% for BNO. On fees, XT is cheaper at 0.46% per year. On volatility, XT has been the lower-risk option at 4.85%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XT or BNO?

Over the 10-year period, XT has performed better with a 14.70% return vs 13.60%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XT or BNO?

XT is cheaper with a 0.46% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for BNO.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XT or BNO?

XT has the higher dividend yield at 6.61%, compared with 0.00% for BNO.

What is the main difference between XT and BNO?

XT is categorized as Technology Equities, while BNO is Oil & Gas. XT tracks Morningstar Exponential Technologies Index (Net), while BNO tracks Front Month Brent Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.46% for XT and 0.90% for BNO.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

XT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.89 vs 2.23), 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.