Crude ETFs Keep Losing as Oil Prices Rise

The rebound in oil prices has investors scratching their heads over the not-so-slick performance of exchange traded funds that track the commodity. These funds have lagged crude prices since they bottomed late last year.

The United States Oil Fund (USO Quote), the most widely traded oil ETF, followed the 77% drop of crude prices between July and December. Even though oil prices have climbed 45% since then, the fund has lost another 4.3%.

ETFs that trade oil futures, which allow investors to lock in the cost of oil they plan to buy later, face unique challenges. During bullish times, when oil prices are expected to rise, funds can end up paying contract prices that are higher than spot prices, a situation called "contango." Each time an oil ETF rolls contracts forward a month during periods of contango its return is eroded.

Generic crude oil contracts for May 2009 are trading at $48.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The price rises to $55.04 for October 2009 contracts and $60.20 for May 2010 contracts. Each time an oil ETF rolls contracts forward a month, its return is eroded.

This appears to be the pattern at the United States Oil Fund, which underperformed spot prices by 73% to 111% between April 2006, when it started trading, and oil's peak on July 11. The fund, the oldest of its kind, holds an E-plus grade from TheStreet.com Ratings, a recommendation to "sell."

The same has happened at rival funds. Between July and December, the E-rated iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (OIL Quote) fell 76%. However, it lost another 12% as oil prices rose.