ALB vs IWM: Correlation
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) show a moderate relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.52.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are ALB and IWM?
Over the past 3 years, ALB and IWM moved with a correlation of 0.52, which is moderate. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at 0.39 versus 0.52 over 3 years. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.55, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 554.0 %².
Among the 36 assets we track against ALB, IWM ranks #6 by 3-year correlation. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with ALB ahead by 28.5 points (+56.9% versus +28.4%). The rolling one-year correlation stayed in a tight band between 0.39 and 0.62 over the past three years, which points to a structural rather than episodic relationship. Note the risk asymmetry: ALB runs 2.7 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.
ALB vs IWM: side by side
| ALB (Albemarle Corporation) | IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +56.9% | +28.4% |
| 5-year return | -39.2% | +41.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 54.3% | 19.8% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.62 | 1.06 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -74.1% | -27.5% |
| Market cap | $16.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 502.9 | – |
| Dividend yield | 1.20% | 0.91% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.19% |
| Assets under management | – | $80.1B |
| Sector / category | Materials | ETF · US Small & Mid Cap |
IWM, iShares's Small Blend fund, carries $80.1B under management, 1757 holdings, a 0.19% expense ratio, a 0.91% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | ALB | IWM |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -6.6% | -20.5% |
| 2023 | -32.8% | +16.8% |
| 2024 | -39.5% | +11.4% |
| 2025 | +67.7% | +12.7% |
| 2026 | -3.5% | +22.3% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are ALB and IWM good diversifiers for each other?
Somewhat, no more. With 0.52 correlation, most large moves hit both names, and the diversification benefit stays modest.
FAQ
What is the correlation between ALB and IWM?
The ALB/IWM correlation stands at 0.52 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.39, 5 years: 0.55), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is IWM a good diversifier for ALB?
Somewhat, no more. With 0.52 correlation, most large moves hit both names, and the diversification benefit stays modest.
What does a correlation of 0.52 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, 0.52 describes how much the two returns move together: +1 is lockstep, 0 is independence, negative values mean opposite directions. It says nothing about which performed better.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/alb-vs-iwm.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/alb-vs-iwm/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: ALB correlations · IWM correlations
