CFR vs SPY: Correlation
How closely do Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.43, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are CFR and SPY?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of CFR and SPY correlate at 0.43, moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.03) than the 3-year average (0.43). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.42, with an annualized covariance of 158.4 %².
Out of 12 assets tracked against CFR, SPY lands near the bottom at #8. On 12-month performance CFR holds a 5.5-point edge, +26.1% against +20.6%. Risk is not evenly split, since CFR carries 1.8 times the volatility of the other side.
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.
CFR vs SPY: side by side
| CFR (Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +26.1% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | +64.2% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 25.6% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.76 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -26.5% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $10.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 15.4 | – |
| Dividend yield | 2.47% | 1.01% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.09% |
| Assets under management | – | $795.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Large Cap |
SPY is a Large Blend fund from State Street Investment Management: $795.3B under management, 504 holdings, a 0.09% expense ratio, a 1.01% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | CFR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +8.7% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | -16.1% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | +27.9% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | -2.8% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +29.3% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are CFR and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
A fair diversifier. At 0.43, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
FAQ
What is the correlation between CFR and SPY?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.43 over 3 years, with 0.03 over the last year and 0.42 over 5 years.
Is SPY a good diversifier for CFR?
A fair diversifier. At 0.43, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
What does a correlation of 0.43 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.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: CFR correlations · SPY correlations
