RFI vs VXZ: Correlation
How closely do Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc. (RFI) and iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN (VXZ) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of -0.45, which is negative.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are RFI and VXZ?
Over the past 3 years, RFI and VXZ moved with a correlation of -0.45, which is negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (-0.38) sits close to the 3-year figure. Over 5 years the correlation is -0.49, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is -208.4 %².
VXZ is close to the least connected end of RFI's tracked universe, ranking #39 of 39. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months RFI outperformed by 19.8 percentage points (+3.7% for RFI against -16.1% for VXZ).
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.
RFI vs VXZ: side by side
| RFI (Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc.) | VXZ (iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +3.7% | -16.1% |
| 5-year return | +5.1% | -53.1% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 18.1% | 25.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.57 | -1.31 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -16.2% | -36.4% |
| Market cap | – | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 27.1 | – |
| Dividend yield | 8.41% | – |
| Sector / category | US Listed | US Listed |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | RFI | VXZ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -22.1% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | +4.4% | -44.0% |
| 2024 | +6.6% | -12.7% |
| 2025 | +3.6% | +5.7% |
| 2026 | +8.9% | -10.5% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are RFI and VXZ good diversifiers for each other?
Yes: at -0.45, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
FAQ
What is the correlation between RFI and VXZ?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between RFI and VXZ is -0.45 over 3 years, -0.38 over 1 year and -0.49 over 5 years.
Is VXZ a good diversifier for RFI?
Yes: at -0.45, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
What does a correlation of -0.45 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/rfi-vs-vxz.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/rfi-vs-vxz/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: RFI correlations · VXZ correlations
