BRK.B vs USMV: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) carry a correlation of 0.61, a strong link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are BRK.B and USMV?
Over the past 3 years, BRK.B and USMV moved with a correlation of 0.61, which is strong. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.48) runs below the 3-year figure (0.61). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.67, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 96.1 %².
Among the 31 assets we track against BRK.B, USMV ranks #5 by 3-year correlation. The trailing year gives USMV the advantage: +1.6% versus +10.1%, a 8.5-point spread. On a rolling one-year basis the correlation drifted between 0.49 and 0.79, a moderate band. Note the risk asymmetry: BRK.B runs 1.6 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.
BRK.B vs USMV: side by side
| BRK.B (Berkshire Hathaway) | USMV (iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +1.6% | +10.1% |
| 5-year return | +76.3% | +42.3% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 15.9% | 9.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.43 | 0.51 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -14.9% | -9.4% |
| Market cap | $1,078.3B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 12.7 | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.48% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.15% |
| Assets under management | – | $23.6B |
| Sector / category | Financials | ETF · US Style |
USMV, iShares's Large Blend fund, carries $23.6B under management, 164 holdings, a 0.15% expense ratio, a 1.48% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | BRK.B | USMV |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +3.3% | -9.4% |
| 2023 | +15.5% | +10.3% |
| 2024 | +27.1% | +15.7% |
| 2025 | +10.9% | +7.6% |
| 2026 | +0.2% | +9.1% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
Keep in mind that USMV holds BRK.B at a 1.41% weight, which makes a slice of this correlation mechanical rather than coincidental.
Are BRK.B and USMV good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.61 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 BRK.B and USMV?
The BRK.B/USMV correlation stands at 0.61 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.48, 5 years: 0.67), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is USMV a good diversifier for BRK.B?
To a limited degree. At 0.61 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 0.61 mean?
A reading of 0.61 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/brk-b-vs-usmv.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/brk-b-vs-usmv/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: BRK.B correlations · USMV correlations
