The takeaway
VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF shows a moderate seasonal pattern over 8 years of data — strongest in May (+4.9%) and softest in October (−2.1%).
Right now
In July, the fund has risen 57% of years, averaging +1.7% — essentially in line with the S&P 500.
The full picture
VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF's most dependable month has been May, higher in 6 of 7 years; October has been its least reliable, up just 25% of the time.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Month by month
The fund's clearest edge over the S&P 500 lands in May (+4.2 pts); it has trailed the market most in October (−3.2 pts).
“vs S&P” is VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF’s average for a month minus the S&P 500’s average for that same month — isolating VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF’s own seasonal edge from broad market drift.
Reality check
Over the last 5 years, May has closed higher 100% of the time versus 86% across the last 8 years — the pattern is strengthening.
Figures are the typical (median) May return and how often it rose — the last 5 years versus the last 8(the heatmap’s default window). This verdict stays anchored to that 8-year window even if you zoom the chart, so it never disagrees with the badges above.
In plain English
Strip the year back and a single month does the heavy lifting: May, up in 6 of 7 Mays while the other eleven tend to blur together.
A typical May brings +3.3%, a shade under the +4.9% average. Crucially, the gain is the fund's own rather than a rising tide's: May has cleared the S&P 500 by +4.2 points above the index. That consistency sets it apart from the field, where the average stock manages May only about 55% of the time.
A few other months pull their weight: January, June, and August have also closed higher more often than not. At the other end of the calendar, October has been the soft spot — the weakest of 4 months that average a loss (−2.1%), and the edge isn't year-round — the fund has trailed the S&P 500 in October, April, and December. Its roughest month on record was a −15.0% April in 2022 — a reminder of how hard even a seasonal name can fall.
May has now closed higher 6 years running. If anything it has sharpened recently — the last five Mays run ahead of the earlier years.
The takeaway is less about when to buy than what to expect: May aside, the fund's months offer little reliable tilt. With a short 8-year record, the signal is best held loosely.
Short answers on the fund's best month (May), its worst (October), and whether it really trades seasonally.
Yes, to a moderate degree. Since 2018 its best month (May, +4.9%) has run well ahead of its worst (October, −2.1%) — the heatmap above shows how steady that gap has been year to year.
May has been the strongest, averaging +4.9% and closing higher in 6 of 7 years since 2018.
It's the weakest, averaging −2.1% — historically a soft spot, though it still varies from year to year.
Explore
These names have the strongest July track records on record — a starting point for comparison.
Before you trade