COUR vs VXZ: Correlation
Coursera, Inc. (COUR) and iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN (VXZ) show a negative relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is -0.29.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are COUR and VXZ?
Over the past 3 years, COUR and VXZ moved with a correlation of -0.29, which is negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: -0.30 over 1 year against -0.29 over 3. Over 5 years the correlation is -0.34, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is -441.8 %².
VXZ is close to the least connected end of COUR's tracked universe, ranking #13 of 14. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months VXZ outperformed by 27.4 percentage points (-43.5% for COUR against -16.1% for VXZ). Risk is not evenly split, since COUR carries 2.3 times the volatility of the other side.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
COUR vs VXZ: side by side
| COUR (Coursera, Inc.) | VXZ (iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -43.5% | -16.1% |
| 5-year return | -83.3% | -53.1% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 58.8% | 25.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.14 | -1.31 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -75.8% | -36.4% |
| Market cap | $1.8B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | – |
| Sector / category | US Listed | US Listed |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | COUR | VXZ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -51.6% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | +63.7% | -44.0% |
| 2024 | -56.1% | -12.7% |
| 2025 | -13.4% | +5.7% |
| 2026 | -13.2% | -10.5% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are COUR and VXZ good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.29, COUR and VXZ have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between COUR and VXZ?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between COUR and VXZ is -0.29 over 3 years, -0.30 over 1 year and -0.34 over 5 years.
Is VXZ a good diversifier for COUR?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.29, COUR and VXZ have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of -0.29 mean?
A reading of -0.29 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/cour-vs-vxz.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/cour-vs-vxz/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: COUR correlations · VXZ correlations
