BDX vs MRK: Correlation
Becton Dickinson (BDX) and Merck & Co. (MRK) show a moderate relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.45.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are BDX and MRK?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of BDX and MRK correlate at 0.45, moderate. Lately the two have moved closer together, with the 1-year correlation at 0.57 versus 0.45 over 3 years. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.36, with an annualized covariance of 298.6 %².
Within BDX's tracked universe of 28 assets, MRK comes in at #10 by 3-year correlation. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with MRK ahead by 58.3 points (+25.5% versus +83.8%). This link changes with the market regime, having swung between 0.10 and 0.60 on a rolling one-year basis.
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.
BDX vs MRK: side by side
| BDX (Becton Dickinson) | MRK (Merck & Co.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +25.5% | +83.8% |
| 5-year return | +6.8% | +128.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 24.0% | 27.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.33 | 0.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -39.6% | -43.4% |
| Market cap | $51.2B | $368.9B |
| P/E (trailing) | 32.9 | 121.6 |
| Dividend yield | 2.20% | 2.17% |
| Sector / category | Health Care | Health Care |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | BDX | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +5.1% | +49.4% |
| 2023 | -2.7% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | -5.4% | -6.3% |
| 2025 | -12.6% | +9.8% |
| 2026 | +25.0% | +44.1% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are BDX and MRK good diversifiers for each other?
A fair diversifier. At 0.45, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
FAQ
What is the correlation between BDX and MRK?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.45 over 3 years, with 0.57 over the last year and 0.36 over 5 years.
Is MRK a good diversifier for BDX?
A fair diversifier. At 0.45, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
What does a correlation of 0.45 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.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/bdx-vs-mrk.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/bdx-vs-mrk/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: BDX correlations · MRK correlations
