^VIX vs. AAPL
^VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) is an index, while AAPL (Apple Inc) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, ^VIX returned -2.75%/yr vs 30.05%/yr for AAPL. At a correlation of -0.40, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
^VIX vs. AAPL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^VIX achieves a 30.37% return, which is significantly higher than AAPL's 8.46% return. Over the past 10 years, ^VIX has underperformed AAPL with an annualized return of -2.75%, while AAPL has yielded a comparatively higher 30.05% annualized return.
^VIX
- 1D
- 12.79%
- 1M
- 16.71%
- YTD
- 30.37%
- 6M
- 39.21%
- 1Y
- -1.71%
- 3Y*
- 13.19%
- 5Y*
- 4.06%
- 10Y*
- -2.75%
AAPL
- 1D
- -0.91%
- 1M
- -4.70%
- YTD
- 8.46%
- 6M
- 8.26%
- 1Y
- 46.63%
- 3Y*
- 16.93%
- 5Y*
- 17.74%
- 10Y*
- 30.05%
^VIX vs. AAPL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^VIX CBOE Volatility Index | 30.37% | -13.83% | 39.36% | -42.55% | 25.84% | -24.31% | 65.09% | -45.79% | 130.25% | -21.37% |
AAPL Apple Inc | 8.46% | 9.05% | 30.71% | 49.01% | -26.40% | 34.65% | 82.31% | 88.96% | -5.39% | 48.46% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^VIX and AAPL is -0.43, 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 | -0.43 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.48 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.53 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 1990 | -0.40 |
The correlation between ^VIX and AAPL shifts across timeframes, from -0.53 (5 years) to -0.40 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
^VIX vs. AAPL — Risk / Return Rank
^VIX
AAPL
^VIX vs. AAPL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX) and Apple Inc (AAPL). 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.
| ^VIX | AAPL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.09 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.38 | -0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.03 | 3.40 | -3.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.06 | 8.35 | -8.40 |
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Drawdowns
^VIX vs. AAPL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^VIX drawdown since its inception was -88.70%, which is greater than AAPL's maximum drawdown of -81.80%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^VIX and AAPL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^VIX | AAPL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -88.70% | -81.80% | -6.90% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -50.66% | -13.80% | -36.86% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -74.26% | -33.36% | -40.90% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -74.26% | -33.36% | -40.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -85.66% | -38.52% | -47.14% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -76.43% | -6.63% | -69.80% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -64.07% | -29.58% | -34.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 30.70% | 5.60% | +25.10% |
Volatility
^VIX vs. AAPL - Volatility Comparison
CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX) has a higher volatility of 49.16% compared to Apple Inc (AAPL) at 6.98%. This indicates that ^VIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AAPL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^VIX | AAPL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 49.16% | 6.98% | +42.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 91.13% | 16.62% | +74.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 124.01% | 22.57% | +101.44% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 127.78% | 27.52% | +100.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 136.67% | 28.92% | +107.75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^VIX and AAPL have a correlation of -0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
^VIX has higher volatility (49.16%) compared to AAPL (6.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^VIX dropped -88.70% vs AAPL's -81.80%.
AAPL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.08 vs -0.01), 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.
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