VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF (NLR) Performance
NLR total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −27.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −35.3% total return
- 5 years
- +12.3% a year
- 10 years
- +9.7% a year
- Since first price
- +2.1% a year since 2007
NLR trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | NLR total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −16.6% | −16.6% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −18.9% | −18.9% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −38.2% | −38.2% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −27.2% | −27.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −35.3% | −36.8% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +43.5%+12.8%/yr | +32.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +78.9%+12.3%/yr | +59.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +152.3%+9.7%/yr | +89.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +174.1%+7.0%/yr | +63.3% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 15, 2007 | +49.8%+2.1%/yr | −20.4% | — | — | — |
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: NLR vs SPY
From Aug 15, 2007: NLR grew to $14,979, SPY to $76,604.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
NLR returns by calendar year
14 of 18 full years positive. Best 2025 (+56.5%), worst 2008 (−44.7%). 2026 is year to date.
NLR annual returns table
| Year | NLR | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −27.2% | −45.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +56.5% | −30.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +14.3% | −21.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +36.7% | −11.2% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +2.3% | −16.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +13.6% | −7.7% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +3.5% | −34.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +0.4% | −9.3% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | +4.9% | −6.9% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +8.3% | −6.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +9.2% | −9.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −9.4% | −14.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +9.6% | −7.4% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +17.3% | −9.9% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | −3.0% | −25.6% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −33.7% | −41.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +16.6% | −22.7% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +17.4% | −29.3% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −44.7% | −61.2% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
NLR largest drawdowns
Now 45.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2007 | −67.0% | Oct 27, 2008 | Jan 10, 2024 | 12 months | 16.2 years |
| Jan 28, 2026 | −45.0% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 9 months | 9 months so far |
| Jan 23, 2025 | −30.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | May 23, 2025 | 2 months | 4 months |
| Oct 15, 2025 | −25.8% | Nov 21, 2025 | Jan 28, 2026 | 37 days | 3 months |
| May 21, 2024 | −21.4% | Sep 6, 2024 | Oct 16, 2024 | 4 months | 5 months |
| Oct 21, 2024 | −15.3% | Dec 18, 2024 | Jan 23, 2025 | 58 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
NLR risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.4% | +17.0% | +11.0% | +2.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.1% | 29.1% | 22.6% | 23.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.48 | 0.56 | 0.47 | 0.18 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.78 | 0.91 | 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Best month | +23.1% | +23.1% | +23.1% | +23.1% |
| Worst month | −16.2% | −16.2% | −16.2% | −25.2% |
| Best 12 months | +91.6% | +91.6% | +91.6% | +91.6% |
| Worst 12 months | −21.8% | −21.8% | −21.9% | −60.1% |
| Positive months | 56% | 60% | 57% | 56% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.38 | 0.88 | 0.72 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.49 | 0.47 | 0.49 | — |
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.
NLR rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 219 | −60.1% | +5.7% | +91.6% | 67% |
| 3-year (a year) | 195 | −18.7% | +4.6% | +45.9% | 73% |
| 5-year (a year) | 171 | −16.3% | +4.3% | +30.9% | 78% |
| 10-year (a year) | 111 | −5.1% | +4.6% | +15.8% | 83% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
NLR performance overview
VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF (NLR) returned −35.3% over the past year and +9.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +2.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $14,979. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −67.0%, from Nov 6, 2007 to Oct 27, 2008, and it took 15.2 years to get back to the old high. NLR finished 14 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+56.5%) and the worst 2008 (−44.7%). Volatility has been 23.8% a year.
Related: NLR chart, NLR holdings, NLR dividends. See the NLR overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
NLR performance FAQ
What is the NLR return over the past year?
NLR returned −35.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 36.8%.
What is the average annual return of NLR?
NLR has returned +12.3% a year over 5 years, +9.7% a year over 10 years, +2.1% a year since August 15, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in NLR be worth?
$10,000 invested in NLR at its first recorded close on August 15, 2007 would be worth about $14,979 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for NLR?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −44.7%. The best was 2025 at +56.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of NLR?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −67.0% between November 6, 2007 and October 27, 2008. It recovered to the old high on January 10, 2024, 15.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is NLR?
Over the past 3 years NLR had an annualized volatility of 35.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.48 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).