ZIM vs. USO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ZIM (ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.) is a stock, while USO (United States Oil Fund LP) is Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil. Over the past 5 years, ZIM returned 20.68%/yr vs 24.41%/yr for USO. At a 0.08 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

ZIM vs. USO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZIM achieves a 19.30% return, which is significantly lower than USO's 103.67% return.

ZIM

• 1D: -2.82%
• 1M: -6.02%
• YTD: 19.30%
• 6M: 27.46%
• 1Y: 54.12%
• 3Y*: 43.32%
• 5Y*: 20.68%
• 10Y*: —

USO

• 1D: 2.62%
• 1M: -4.57%
• YTD: 103.67%
• 6M: 99.35%
• 1Y: 101.55%
• 3Y*: 29.98%
• 5Y*: 24.41%
• 10Y*: 4.07%

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

ZIM vs. USO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
ZIM ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.	19.30%	28.11%	176.93%	-21.06%	-52.70%	463.11%
USO United States Oil Fund LP	103.67%	-8.46%	13.35%	-4.94%	28.97%	54.21%

Correlation

The correlation between ZIM and USO is -0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.06
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.04
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.08
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 29, 2021	0.08

The correlation between ZIM and USO shifts across timeframes, from -0.06 (1 year) to 0.08 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

ZIM vs. USO — Risk / Return Rank

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

ZIM

ZIM Risk / Return Rank: 72
ZIM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
ZIM Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
ZIM Omega Ratio Rank: 70
ZIM Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
ZIM Martin Ratio Rank: 72

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 66
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 61
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 87
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 54

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.

ZIM vs. USO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO). 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.

	ZIM	USO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.03	2.31	-1.28
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.02	2.89	-0.87
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.23	1.38	-0.15
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.77	5.01	-3.23
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.29	9.42	-5.13
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ZIM vs. USO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZIM Sharpe Ratio is 1.03, which is lower than the USO Sharpe Ratio of 2.31. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZIM and USO, 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

	ZIM	USO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.03	2.31	-1.28
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.32	0.68	-0.37
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.10	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.75	-0.18	+0.93

Drawdowns

ZIM vs. USO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZIM drawdown since its inception was -84.68%, smaller than the maximum USO drawdown of -98.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZIM and USO.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZIM	USO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-84.68%	-98.19%	+13.51%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-30.66%	-20.39%	-10.27%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-57.12%	-26.05%	-31.07%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-84.68%	-36.23%	-48.45%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-86.75%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-14.19%	-85.01%	+70.82%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-40.05%	-75.30%	+35.25%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	12.65%	10.82%	+1.83%

Volatility

ZIM vs. USO - Volatility Comparison

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) and United States Oil Fund LP (USO) have volatilities of 14.70% and 14.87%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZIM	USO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	14.70%	14.87%	-0.17%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	37.41%	38.23%	-0.82%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	53.01%	44.20%	+8.81%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	65.89%	36.06%	+29.83%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	67.72%	39.00%	+28.72%

Dividends

ZIM vs. USO - Dividend Comparison

ZIM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.10%, while USO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
USO United States Oil Fund LP	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
ZIM ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.	5.10%	20.16%	22.40%	64.84%	160.27%	7.65%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ZIM and USO in my portfolio?

ZIM and USO have a correlation of -0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ZIM or USO?

USO has higher volatility (14.87%) compared to ZIM (14.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ZIM dropped -84.68% vs USO's -98.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

USO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.31 vs 1.03), 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.