It stands for symmetric value at risk (symmetric VaR); a measure of value at risk (VaR) that captures the risk of loss at the average of the expected return on a portfolio/ a fund and typically following a uniform symmetric distribution. In other words, the variables have the same lag length: every variable (VaR coefficient) is plugged in (in every equation or formula of calculation) with the same lag specifications. Employing the same lag specification for each coefficient comes at the expense of freedom degrees, resulting in a situation where statistically insignificant coefficients are made part of the calculation methodology.

SVaR may also denote stressed value at risk (stressed VaR) or stress value at risk (stress VaR).