VanEck Digital Native Economy ETF (GENZ) Performance
GENZ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −7.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −7.5% total return
- 5 years
- −3.8% a year
- 10 years
- +2.9% a year
- Since first price
- +1.9% a year since 2008
GENZ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | GENZ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +1.9% | +1.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +4.4% | +4.4% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +5.1% | +5.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −7.0% | −7.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −7.5% | −10.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +8.2%+2.7%/yr | +0.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −17.7%−3.8%/yr | −24.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +32.9%+2.9%/yr | +7.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +82.9%+4.1%/yr | +25.9% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 24, 2008 | +42.1%+1.9%/yr | −8.1% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: GENZ vs SPY
From Jan 24, 2008: GENZ grew to $14,206, SPY to $79,239.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
GENZ returns by calendar year
10 of 17 full years positive. Best 2013 (+52.2%), worst 2018 (−26.8%). 2026 is year to date.
GENZ annual returns table
| Year | GENZ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −7.0% | −17.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +4.1% | −22.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −1.4% | −15.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +11.5% | −21.2% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −12.8% | −29.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −4.3% | −28.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +12.7% | −52.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +30.1% | −15.7% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −26.8% | −35.2% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +41.1% | −6.0% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +10.0% | −13.8% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −14.0% | −27.9% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −24.4% | −31.1% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +52.2% | −12.1% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +22.5% | −19.8% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −2.4% | −28.0% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +37.9% | −18.2% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +36.3% | −31.7% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
GENZ largest drawdowns
Now 27.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25, 2008 | −71.1% | Mar 9, 2009 | Mar 26, 2013 | 1.1 years | 5.2 years |
| May 21, 2018 | −56.4% | Mar 18, 2020 | Dec 16, 2020 | 1.8 years | 2.6 years |
| Mar 6, 2014 | −46.2% | Jan 20, 2016 | Jan 19, 2018 | 1.9 years | 3.9 years |
| Mar 17, 2021 | −43.8% | Sep 23, 2022 | not yet | 1.5 years | 5.6 years so far |
| May 20, 2013 | −12.1% | Jun 24, 2013 | Sep 4, 2013 | 35 days | 4 months |
| Jan 24, 2018 | −10.3% | Apr 6, 2018 | May 21, 2018 | 2 months | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
GENZ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | −0.4% | −3.9% | +2.1% | +1.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 21.6% | 25.0% | 26.3% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.17 | -0.24 | 0.12 | 0.14 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.22 | -0.33 | 0.17 | 0.20 |
| Best month | +8.5% | +13.8% | +22.5% | +31.7% |
| Worst month | −10.0% | −15.4% | −28.8% | −28.8% |
| Best 12 months | +17.9% | +32.5% | +107.3% | +107.3% |
| Worst 12 months | −16.3% | −32.3% | −35.6% | −65.1% |
| Positive months | 61% | 55% | 57% | 55% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.93 | 0.95 | 1.21 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.63 | 0.69 | 0.74 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
GENZ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 214 | −65.1% | +7.6% | +107.3% | 57% |
| 3-year (a year) | 190 | −10.6% | +4.6% | +37.0% | 66% |
| 5-year (a year) | 166 | −6.7% | +4.3% | +33.9% | 80% |
| 10-year (a year) | 106 | −0.4% | +4.2% | +13.4% | 99% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2008. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
GENZ performance overview
VanEck Digital Native Economy ETF (GENZ) returned −7.5% over the past year and +2.9% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2008 it has returned +1.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $14,206. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −71.1%, from Jan 25, 2008 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 4.0 years to get back to the old high. GENZ finished 10 of its 17 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+52.2%) and the worst 2018 (−26.8%). Volatility has been 26.3% a year.
Related: GENZ chart, GENZ dividends. See the GENZ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
GENZ performance FAQ
What is the GENZ return over the past year?
GENZ returned −7.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 10.5%.
What is the average annual return of GENZ?
GENZ has returned −3.8% a year over 5 years, +2.9% a year over 10 years, +1.9% a year since January 24, 2008 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in GENZ be worth?
$10,000 invested in GENZ at its first recorded close on January 24, 2008 would be worth about $14,206 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for GENZ?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −26.8%. The best was 2013 at +52.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of GENZ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −71.1% between January 25, 2008 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on March 26, 2013, 4.0 years after the bottom.
How volatile is GENZ?
Over the past 3 years GENZ had an annualized volatility of 18.4% and a Sharpe ratio of -0.17 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).