VXX vs. AMZN
VXX (iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN) is Volatility fund tracking the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index Total Return, while AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, VXX returned -46.65%/yr vs 20.85%/yr for AMZN. At a correlation of -0.50, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
VXX vs. AMZN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VXX achieves a -19.27% return, which is significantly lower than AMZN's 7.25% return. Over the past 10 years, VXX has underperformed AMZN with an annualized return of -46.65%, while AMZN has yielded a comparatively higher 20.85% annualized return.
VXX
- 1D
- -3.39%
- 1M
- -6.27%
- 6M
- -27.26%
- YTD
- -19.27%
- 1Y
- -52.36%
- 3Y*
- -39.14%
- 5Y*
- -46.50%
- 10Y*
- -46.65%
- ALL TIME*
- -51.48%
AMZN
- 1D
- -0.98%
- 1M
- 1.29%
- 6M
- 7.16%
- YTD
- 7.25%
- 1Y
- 7.96%
- 3Y*
- 23.95%
- 5Y*
- 6.36%
- 10Y*
- 20.85%
- ALL TIME*
- 29.82%
VXX vs. AMZN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VXX iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN | -19.27% | -42.21% | -26.22% | -72.52% | -23.80% | -72.41% | 11.04% | -67.75% | 67.91% | -72.64% |
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc | 7.25% | 5.21% | 44.39% | 80.88% | -49.62% | 2.38% | 76.26% | 23.03% | 28.43% | 55.96% |
Correlation
The correlation between VXX and AMZN is -0.46, 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 | -0.46 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.51 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.51 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.49 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 2009 | -0.50 |
The correlation between VXX and AMZN has been stable across timeframes, ranging from -0.51 to -0.46 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VXX vs. AMZN — Risk / Return Rank
VXX
AMZN
VXX vs. AMZN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) and Amazon.com, Inc (AMZN). 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.
| VXX | AMZN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.84 | 1.07 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.96 | 0.37 | -1.33 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.52 | 0.80 | -2.32 |
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Drawdowns
VXX vs. AMZN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VXX drawdown since its inception was -100.00%, which is greater than AMZN's maximum drawdown of -94.40%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VXX and AMZN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VXX | AMZN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -100.00% | -94.40% | -5.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -54.59% | -21.74% | -32.85% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -80.75% | -30.88% | -49.87% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -95.85% | -55.77% | -40.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -99.82% | -56.15% | -43.67% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -100.00% | -9.98% | -90.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -95.10% | -28.13% | -66.97% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 34.50% | 9.94% | +24.56% |
Volatility
VXX vs. AMZN - Volatility Comparison
iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) has a higher volatility of 12.47% compared to Amazon.com, Inc (AMZN) at 8.79%. This indicates that VXX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AMZN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VXX | AMZN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 12.47% | 8.79% | +3.68% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 44.07% | 21.95% | +22.12% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 56.60% | 31.14% | +25.46% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 67.53% | 35.71% | +31.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 70.33% | 32.61% | +37.72% |
Dividends
VXX vs. AMZN - Dividend Comparison
Neither VXX nor AMZN has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
VXX and AMZN have a correlation of -0.46, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VXX has higher volatility (12.47%) compared to AMZN (8.79%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VXX dropped -100.00% vs AMZN's -94.40%.
AMZN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.26 vs -0.93), 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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