BMY vs MRK: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) and Merck & Co. (MRK) carry a correlation of 0.41, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are BMY and MRK?
Over the past 3 years, BMY and MRK moved with a correlation of 0.41, which is moderate. Lately the two have moved closer together, with the 1-year correlation at 0.61 versus 0.41 over 3 years. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.42, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 315.7 %².
Among the 31 assets we track against BMY, MRK ranks #10 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: MRK led by 36.5 percentage points, +47.3% for BMY against +83.8% for MRK. Do not treat this figure as fixed: across three years the rolling one-year correlation ranged all the way from -0.03 to 0.65.
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.
BMY vs MRK: side by side
| BMY (Bristol Myers Squibb) | MRK (Merck & Co.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +47.3% | +83.8% |
| 5-year return | +22.3% | +128.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 27.8% | 27.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.20 | 0.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -34.1% | -43.4% |
| Market cap | $136.8B | $368.9B |
| P/E (trailing) | 14.9 | 121.6 |
| Dividend yield | 3.71% | 2.17% |
| Sector / category | Health Care | Health Care |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | BMY | MRK |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +19.0% | +49.4% |
| 2023 | -26.1% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | +15.8% | -6.3% |
| 2025 | +0.1% | +9.8% |
| 2026 | +28.3% | +44.1% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are BMY and MRK good diversifiers for each other?
Reasonably. At 0.41, BMY and MRK keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between BMY and MRK?
The BMY/MRK correlation stands at 0.41 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.61, 5 years: 0.42), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is MRK a good diversifier for BMY?
Reasonably. At 0.41, BMY and MRK keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.41 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/bmy-vs-mrk.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/bmy-vs-mrk/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: BMY correlations · MRK correlations
