Facts you should know about UVXY, VXX, TVIX, and VIXY

Whether you are long or short volatility ETP’s, you really ought to know what you are trading.  Here are a few essential facts about UVXY, VXX, TVIX, and VIXY:

UVXY – ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

Inception date: October 3, 2011
Expense ratio: 0.95%

Optionable: Yes

 

VXX – iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN

Inception date: January 29, 2009

Maturity (when it will end): January 30, 2019

Expense ratio: 0.89%

Optionable: Yes

 

TVIX – VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX Short-Term ETN

Inception date: November 29, 2010

Expense ratio: 1.65%

Optionable: No

 

VIXY – ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

Inception date: January 3, 2011

Expense ratio: 0.85%

Optionable: Yes

The first thing we can observe is that the expense ratios (what the fund managers indirectly charge you per year for owning these financial products) are somewhat high.  Compare TVIX’s expense ratio of 1.65% to, for example, the popular SPY’s expense ratio of 0.09%, and you’ll surely see that these long VIX products are no bargain.  Given the poor performance of these VIX products, these high expense ratios are, in effect, adding insult to injury.

Another thing to note is that none of these long volatility products existed in 2008.  Therefore, no one knows what it’s like to short them during the peak of a massive financial crisis.  That’s why small position sizing and hedging strategies are essential if you’re shorting (or selling calls on) any of these long-vol ETP’s.

A third thing to notice is that while UVXY, VXX, and VIXY are optionable, TVIX is not.  This means that shorting UVXY, VXX, and VIXY might be preferable to shorting TVIX, as is it possible to hedge short positions in UVXY, VXX, and VIXY by purchasing calls, whereas this hedging strategy is currently not possible with TVIX.

These quick facts are important, but they are only the beginning.  No matter what your position might be, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and learn all you can about any financial product you’re trading.