Highlights
- Avg. Volume (1M)
- 0
- Avg. Volume Value (1M)
- $0.00
Share Price Chart
Loading charts...
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Performance
^VIX Performance Chart
CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX) is up 7.0% since the beginning of the year. ^VIX is currently trading at $16 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of ^VIX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $877.
Loading charts...
Compare this symbol against anything
Returns By Period
CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX) has returned 6.96% so far this year and -21.54% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, ^VIX has returned 1.81% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.26% annually.
CBOE Volatility Index
- 1D
- -6.44%
- 1M
- -0.99%
- 6M
- -8.31%
- YTD
- 6.96%
- 1Y
- -21.54%
- 3Y*
- 4.70%
- 5Y*
- -2.60%
- 10Y*
- 1.81%
- ALL TIME*
- -0.21%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- 0.09%
- 6M
- 7.94%
- YTD
- 9.41%
- 1Y
- 20.07%
- 3Y*
- 17.84%
- 5Y*
- 11.25%
- 10Y*
- 13.26%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.09%
^VIX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jan 2, 1990, ^VIX's average daily return is +0.24%, while the average monthly return is +2.05%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 2.8 years.
Historically, 47% of months were positive and 53% were negative. The best month was Aug 2015 with a return of +134.6%, while the worst month was Nov 2020 at -45.9%. The longest winning streak lasted 5 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 8 months.
On a daily basis, ^VIX closed higher 46% of trading days. The best single day was Feb 5, 2018 with a return of +115.6%, while the worst single day was Apr 9, 2025 at -35.8%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16.66% | 13.88% | 27.14% | -33.11% | -9.30% | 7.38% | -2.80% | 6.96% | |||||
| 2025 | -5.30% | 19.48% | 13.50% | 10.86% | -24.82% | -9.91% | -0.06% | -8.13% | 5.99% | 7.13% | -6.25% | -8.56% | -13.83% |
| 2024 | 15.26% | -6.62% | -2.91% | 20.29% | -17.44% | -3.72% | 31.51% | -8.31% | 11.53% | 38.43% | -41.67% | 28.42% | 39.36% |
| 2023 | -10.48% | 6.70% | -9.66% | -15.61% | 13.69% | -24.25% | 0.29% | -0.44% | 29.11% | 3.54% | -28.78% | -3.64% | -42.55% |
| 2022 | 44.19% | 21.43% | -31.81% | 62.45% | -21.59% | 9.62% | -25.71% | 21.28% | 22.23% | -18.15% | -20.48% | 5.30% | 25.84% |
| 2021 | 45.45% | -15.53% | -30.59% | -4.07% | -9.94% | -5.55% | 15.22% | -9.65% | 40.41% | -29.73% | 67.22% | -36.67% | -24.31% |
Benchmark Metrics
CBOE Volatility Index has an annualized alpha of 183.04%, beta of -4.44, and R2 of 0.50 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since January 02, 1990.
- This index tended to rise when S&P 500 Index fell (downside capture of -1542.14%), but participation in market rallies was also limited (-141.01%) - a profile typical of counter-cyclical assets.
- Beta of -4.44 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.50 this index is largely uncorrelated with S&P 500 Index - low beta reflects independence, not downside protection. See the Volatility section for a true picture of this index's risk.
- R2 of 0.50 means the benchmark explains less than half of this index's behavior - treat beta with caution or consider switching to a more representative benchmark.
- Alpha
- 183.04%
- Beta
- -4.44
- R²
- 0.50
- Upside Capture
- -141.01%
- Downside Capture
- -1,542.14%
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
^VIX ranks 11 for risk / return — above 11% of indices peers on PortfoliosLab. Its historical combined result is below most peers; review the five component ranks for context.
Risk / Return Metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
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.
| ^VIX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.03 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.25 | -0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.08 | 2.00 | -2.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.13 | 8.49 | -8.62 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
Loading charts...
Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the CBOE Volatility Index. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the CBOE Volatility Index was 88.70%, occurring on Nov 3, 2017. Recovery took 592 trading sessions.
The current CBOE Volatility Index drawdown is 80.66%.
Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater | Related event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
-88.70%Nov 2017 | 8y 11mo | 2y 4mo | 11y 3moNov 2008 - Mar 2020 | — |
-85.66%May 2024 | 4y 2mo | — | 6y 4moMar 2020 - now | — |
-78.38%Jan 2007 | 8y 3mo | 1y 8mo | 9y 11moOct 1998 - Sep 2008 | — |
-74.47%Dec 1993 | 3y 4mo | 3y 10mo | 7y 2moAug 1990 - Oct 1997 | — |
-57.51%Jul 1998 | 8mo 19d | 1mo 11d | 10moOct 1997 - Aug 1998 | — |
Drawdown Indicators
| ^VIX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -88.70% | -56.78% | -31.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -51.59% | -9.10% | -42.49% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -74.26% | -18.90% | -55.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -74.26% | -25.43% | -48.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -85.66% | -33.92% | -51.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -80.66% | -1.58% | -79.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -64.12% | -10.70% | -53.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 33.86% | 2.14% | +31.72% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Build a portfolio with ^VIX
Add CBOE Volatility Index to a portfolio and analyze allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Analyzer with ^VIX