DSU vs VXX: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU) and iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) carry a correlation of -0.57, a negative link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are DSU and VXX?
On 3 years of weekly data the DSU/VXX correlation comes out at -0.57, negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. Little has changed lately, as the 1-year reading of -0.60 lands near the 3-year figure. The 5-year figure is -0.46, and annualized covariance runs at -326.2 %².
Out of 12 assets tracked against DSU, VXX lands near the bottom at #12. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with DSU ahead by 49.5 points (-0.2% versus -49.7%). Risk is not evenly split, since VXX carries 6.5 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.
DSU vs VXX: side by side
| DSU (Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.) | VXX (iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -0.2% | -49.7% |
| 5-year return | +35.2% | -95.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 9.3% | 60.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.41 | -3.31 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -14.6% | -83.3% |
| Market cap | $0.6B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 13.6 | – |
| Dividend yield | 12.59% | 0.00% |
| Sector / category | US Listed | US Listed |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | DSU | VXX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -15.5% | -23.8% |
| 2023 | +30.4% | -72.5% |
| 2024 | +11.2% | -26.2% |
| 2025 | +6.0% | -42.2% |
| 2026 | +0.1% | -31.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are DSU and VXX good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.57, DSU and VXX have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between DSU and VXX?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between DSU and VXX is -0.57 over 3 years, -0.60 over 1 year and -0.46 over 5 years.
Is VXX a good diversifier for DSU?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.57, DSU and VXX have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of -0.57 mean?
Correlation ranges from −1 to +1. Values near +1 mean two assets move together, near 0 that they move independently, and negative values that they tend to move in opposite directions. It measures co-movement, not performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/dsu-vs-vxx.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/dsu-vs-vxx/)
Free with attribution; caching and terms are described in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: DSU correlations · VXX correlations
