BME vs VRTX: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Blackrock Health Sciences Trust (BME) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) carry a correlation of 0.54, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are BME and VRTX?
Over the past 3 years, BME and VRTX moved with a correlation of 0.54, which is moderate. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.63) sits close to the 3-year figure. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.48, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 233.3 %².
By 3-year correlation, VRTX places #17 of the 34 assets tracked against BME. Neither side won the trailing year by much: +36.0% against +40.7%. One caveat on sizing: VRTX is 2.1 times as volatile as the other leg, so an equal-dollar split is far from equal-risk.
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.
BME vs VRTX: side by side
| BME (Blackrock Health Sciences Trust) | VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +36.0% | +40.7% |
| 5-year return | +33.5% | +174.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 14.4% | 30.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.45 | 0.55 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -14.4% | -29.1% |
| Market cap | – | $138.8B |
| P/E (trailing) | 7.8 | 31.9 |
| Dividend yield | 6.80% | 0.00% |
| Sector / category | US Listed | Health Care |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | BME | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -4.6% | +31.5% |
| 2023 | -1.1% | +40.9% |
| 2024 | -0.1% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | +17.9% | +12.6% |
| 2026 | +17.9% | +20.8% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are BME and VRTX good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.54 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
FAQ
What is the correlation between BME and VRTX?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.54 over 3 years, with 0.63 over the last year and 0.48 over 5 years.
Is VRTX a good diversifier for BME?
To a limited degree. At 0.54 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
What does a correlation of 0.54 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/bme-vs-vrtx.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/bme-vs-vrtx/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: BME correlations · VRTX correlations
