OXLC vs SPY: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Oxford Lane Capital Corp. - Closed End Fund (OXLC) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) carry a correlation of 0.31, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are OXLC and SPY?
On 3 years of weekly data the OXLC/SPY correlation comes out at 0.31, moderate. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at 0.19 versus 0.31 over 3 years. The 5-year figure is 0.39, and annualized covariance runs at 130.2 %².
Among the 12 assets we track against OXLC, SPY ranks #7 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: SPY led by 47.4 percentage points, -26.8% for OXLC against +20.6% for SPY. Note the risk asymmetry: OXLC runs 2.0 times the annualized volatility of the other leg, so equal-weighting the two is not an equal-risk position.
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.
OXLC vs SPY: side by side
| OXLC (Oxford Lane Capital Corp. - Closed End Fund) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -26.8% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | -22.9% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 28.7% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.62 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -57.2% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $0.9B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 53.57% | 1.01% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.09% |
| Assets under management | – | $795.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Large Cap |
SPY is a Large Blend fund from State Street Investment Management: $795.3B under management, 504 holdings, a 0.09% expense ratio, a 1.01% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | OXLC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -24.1% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | +16.5% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | +24.6% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | -24.4% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | -17.9% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are OXLC and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.31 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between OXLC and SPY?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.31 over 3 years, with 0.19 over the last year and 0.39 over 5 years.
Is SPY a good diversifier for OXLC?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.31 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.31 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.
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Hubs: OXLC correlations · SPY correlations