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VXX vs. SPY
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VXX vs. SPY

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

VXX (iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VXX is a Volatility fund tracking the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index Total Return, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VXX returned -46.77%/yr vs 15.57%/yr for SPY. At a correlation of -0.78, they often move in opposite directions. VXX charges 0.89%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.

Performance

VXX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VXX achieves a -7.93% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 11.69% return. Over the past 10 years, VXX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of -46.77%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 15.57% annualized return.

VXX

1D
-1.65%
1M
-14.19%
YTD
-7.93%
6M
-23.12%
1Y
-54.26%
3Y*
-41.97%
5Y*
-46.65%
10Y*
-46.77%

SPY

1D
0.14%
1M
5.40%
YTD
11.69%
6M
12.09%
1Y
29.62%
3Y*
22.64%
5Y*
14.20%
10Y*
15.57%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VXX vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VXX
iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN		-7.93%-42.21%-26.22%-72.52%-23.80%-72.41%11.04%-67.75%67.91%-72.64%
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF		11.69%17.72%24.89%26.18%-18.18%28.73%18.33%31.22%-4.57%21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between VXX and SPY is -0.73, 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

-0.73

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

-0.73

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

-0.72

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

-0.74

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 2, 2009

-0.78

The correlation between VXX and SPY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from -0.78 to -0.72 - a consistent structural relationship.

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN

State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF

Often compared with VXX:
VXX vs. VIXYVXX vs. UVXYVXX vs. VXZVXX vs. UVIXVXX vs. QQQVXX vs. SVXYVXX vs. ^VVIX
Often compared with SPY:
SPY vs. QQQSPY vs. VOOSPY vs. BRK-BSPY vs. RSPSPY vs. VTISPY vs. SCHDSPY vs. GLD

Return for Risk

VXX vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VXX
VXX Risk / Return Rank: 11
Overall Rank
VXX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 11
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VXX Sortino Ratio Rank: 11
Sortino Ratio Rank
VXX Omega Ratio Rank: 11
Omega Ratio Rank
VXX Calmar Ratio Rank: 11
Calmar Ratio Rank
VXX Martin Ratio Rank: 22
Martin Ratio Rank
SPY
SPY Risk / Return Rank: 7575
Overall Rank
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7777
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 7575
Sortino Ratio Rank
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 7676
Omega Ratio Rank
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 6868
Calmar Ratio Rank
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 8080
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

VXX vs. SPY - 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 State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.

VXXSPYDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

-0.98

2.52

-3.50

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

-1.61

3.42

-5.02

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

0.82

1.46

-0.64

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

-0.97

3.42

-4.39

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

-1.38

15.93

-17.30

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VXX vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VXX Sharpe Ratio is -0.98, which is lower than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 2.52. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VXX and SPY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VXXSPYDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

-0.98

2.52

-3.50

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

-0.69

0.84

-1.53

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

-0.66

0.87

-1.53

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

-0.77

0.59

-1.35

Drawdowns

VXX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VXX drawdown since its inception was -100.00%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VXX and SPY.

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Drawdown Indicators

VXXSPYDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-100.00%

-55.19%

-44.81%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-56.23%

-8.88%

-47.35%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-80.64%

-18.76%

-61.88%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-95.68%

-24.50%

-71.18%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-99.86%

-33.72%

-66.14%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-100.00%

0.00%

-100.00%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-95.08%

-9.05%

-86.03%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

39.72%

1.91%

+37.81%

Volatility

VXX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) has a higher volatility of 8.46% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 2.75%. This indicates that VXX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VXXSPYDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

8.46%

2.75%

+5.71%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

40.88%

8.89%

+31.99%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

55.58%

11.81%

+43.77%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

67.97%

17.05%

+50.92%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

70.98%

17.94%

+53.04%

VXX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison

VXX has a 0.89% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.

Dividends

VXX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

VXX has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SPY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.97%.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF		0.97%1.07%1.21%1.40%1.65%1.20%1.52%1.75%2.04%1.80%2.03%2.06%
VXX
iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN		0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

VXX and SPY have a correlation of -0.73, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

VXX has higher volatility (8.46%) compared to SPY (2.75%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VXX dropped -100.00% vs SPY's -55.19%.

On 10-year performance, SPY leads with 15.57% vs -46.77% for VXX. On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, SPY has been the lower-risk option at 2.75%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, SPY has performed better with a 15.57% return vs -46.77%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.89% for VXX.

SPY has the higher dividend yield at 0.97%, compared with 0.00% for VXX.

VXX is categorized as Volatility, while SPY is S&P 500. VXX tracks S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index Total Return, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Barclays Capital and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.89% for VXX and 0.09% for SPY.

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.52 vs -0.98), 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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