AZN vs MRK: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) and Merck & Co. (MRK) carry a correlation of 0.56, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are AZN and MRK?
Over the past 3 years, AZN and MRK moved with a correlation of 0.56, which is moderate. The past 12 months show a tighter link (0.73) than the 3-year average (0.56). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.53, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 390.9 %².
MRK is one of the assets that tracks AZN most closely: it ranks #3 out of the 14 assets we track against AZN. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with MRK ahead by 79.8 points (+4.0% versus +83.8%).
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.
AZN vs MRK: side by side
| AZN (AstraZeneca PLC) | MRK (Merck & Co.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +4.0% | +83.8% |
| 5-year return | +54.7% | +128.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 25.1% | 27.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.21 | 0.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -27.9% | -43.4% |
| Market cap | $255.2B | $368.9B |
| P/E (trailing) | 24.9 | 121.6 |
| Dividend yield | 1.94% | 2.17% |
| Sector / category | US Listed | Health Care |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | AZN | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +19.2% | +49.4% |
| 2023 | +1.4% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | -6.3% |
| 2025 | +43.3% | +9.8% |
| 2026 | -9.6% | +44.1% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are AZN and MRK good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.56 means AZN and MRK share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
FAQ
What is the correlation between AZN and MRK?
The AZN/MRK correlation stands at 0.56 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.73, 5 years: 0.53), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is MRK a good diversifier for AZN?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.56 means AZN and MRK share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.56 mean?
A reading of 0.56 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/azn-vs-mrk.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/azn-vs-mrk/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: AZN correlations · MRK correlations
