PLSE vs VXZ: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Pulse Biosciences, Inc (PLSE) and iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN (VXZ) carry a correlation of -0.27, a negative link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are PLSE and VXZ?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of PLSE and VXZ correlate at -0.27, negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. The past 12 months show a tighter link (-0.15) than the 3-year average (-0.27). Stretching to 5 years gives -0.21, with an annualized covariance of -602.6 %².
Among the 11 assets we track against PLSE, VXZ sits near the bottom by co-movement, at rank #10. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months PLSE outperformed by 222.5 percentage points (+206.4% for PLSE against -16.1% for VXZ). Note the risk asymmetry: PLSE runs 3.4 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.
PLSE vs VXZ: side by side
| PLSE (Pulse Biosciences, Inc) | VXZ (iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +206.4% | -16.1% |
| 5-year return | +82.4% | -53.1% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 86.6% | 25.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.55 | -1.31 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -48.5% | -36.4% |
| Market cap | $3.5B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | – |
| Sector / category | US Listed | US Listed |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | PLSE | VXZ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -81.3% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | +341.9% | -44.0% |
| 2024 | +42.2% | -12.7% |
| 2025 | -21.1% | +5.7% |
| 2026 | +253.7% | -10.5% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are PLSE and VXZ good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.27, PLSE and VXZ have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between PLSE and VXZ?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between PLSE and VXZ is -0.27 over 3 years, -0.15 over 1 year and -0.21 over 5 years.
Is VXZ a good diversifier for PLSE?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.27, PLSE and VXZ have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of -0.27 mean?
A reading of -0.27 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/plse-vs-vxz.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/plse-vs-vxz/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: PLSE correlations · VXZ correlations