The volatility market of 2026 is a far cry from the calm, suppressed environment of the late 2010s. We have entered what analysts call a high-floor era. That’s where the CBOE Volatility Index ($VIX) rarely dips below 15 and frequently spikes toward 30. While many DIY investors reflexively reach for short-term VIX products like VXX (VXX) or VIXY (VIXY) during a market dip, these funds are notorious for their rapid value erosion.
To address this, the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF (VIXM) offers a more stable, strategic way to hedge a portfolio. Rather than betting on what the market will do in the next 30 days, VIXM tracks a portfolio of VIX futures with a weighted average of five months to expiration. This is what makes it an under-the-radar and underappreciated way to hedge volatility, without feeling like you have to constantly watch it like a near-term options trade.
