VUG vs VXX: Correlation
Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) show a negative relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is -0.71.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are VUG and VXX?
Over the past 3 years, VUG and VXX moved with a correlation of -0.71, which is negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: -0.63 over 1 year against -0.71 over 3. Over 5 years the correlation is -0.63, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is -833.5 %².
VXX is close to the least connected end of VUG's tracked universe, ranking #102 of 103. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months VUG outperformed by 65.9 percentage points (+16.2% for VUG against -49.7% for VXX). Note the risk asymmetry: VXX runs 3.1 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.
VUG vs VXX: side by side
| VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) | VXX (iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +16.2% | -49.7% |
| 5-year return | +78.4% | -95.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.4% | 60.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.28 | -3.31 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -22.8% | -83.3% |
| Market cap | – | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.40% | 0.00% |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | – |
| Assets under management | $372.0B | – |
| Sector / category | ETF · US Style | US Listed |
VUG, Vanguard's Large Growth fund, carries $372.0B under management, 146 holdings, a 0.03% expense ratio, a 0.40% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | VUG | VXX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -33.2% | -23.8% |
| 2023 | +46.8% | -72.5% |
| 2024 | +32.7% | -26.2% |
| 2025 | +19.4% | -42.2% |
| 2026 | +9.6% | -31.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are VUG and VXX good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.71, VUG and VXX have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between VUG and VXX?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between VUG and VXX is -0.71 over 3 years, -0.63 over 1 year and -0.63 over 5 years.
Is VXX a good diversifier for VUG?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.71, VUG and VXX have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of -0.71 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, -0.71 describes how much the two returns move together: +1 is lockstep, 0 is independence, negative values mean opposite directions. It says nothing about which performed better.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/vug-vs-vxx.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/vug-vs-vxx/)
Free with attribution; caching and terms are described in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: VUG correlations · VXX correlations
