ABUS vs SPY: Correlation
How closely do Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (ABUS) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.16, which is weak.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are ABUS and SPY?
On 3 years of weekly data the ABUS/SPY correlation comes out at 0.16, weak. The past 12 months show a tighter link (0.34) than the 3-year average (0.16). The 5-year figure is 0.16, and annualized covariance runs at 95.6 %².
Out of 11 assets tracked against ABUS, SPY lands near the bottom at #7. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months ABUS outperformed by 21.0 percentage points (+41.6% for ABUS against +20.6% for SPY). Note the risk asymmetry: ABUS runs 2.9 times the annualized volatility of the other leg, so equal-weighting the two is not an equal-risk position.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
ABUS vs SPY: side by side
| ABUS (Arbutus Biopharma Corporation) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +41.6% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | +53.0% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 41.5% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.46 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -36.8% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $1.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 6.5 | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.09% |
| Assets under management | – | $795.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Large Cap |
SPY is a Large Blend fund from State Street Investment Management: $795.3B under management, 504 holdings, a 0.09% expense ratio, a 1.01% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | ABUS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -40.1% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | +7.3% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | +30.8% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | +47.1% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +7.5% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are ABUS and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of 0.16, ABUS and SPY have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between ABUS and SPY?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.16 over 3 years, with 0.34 over the last year and 0.16 over 5 years.
Is SPY a good diversifier for ABUS?
Yes. With a correlation of 0.16, ABUS and SPY have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of 0.16 mean?
Correlation ranges from −1 to +1. Values near +1 mean two assets move together, near 0 that they move independently, and negative values that they tend to move in opposite directions. It measures co-movement, not performance.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: ABUS correlations · SPY correlations
