CL vs KMB: Correlation
How closely do Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.53, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are CL and KMB?
Over the past 3 years, CL and KMB moved with a correlation of 0.53, which is moderate. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.34) runs below the 3-year figure (0.53). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.63, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 173.3 %².
By 3-year correlation, KMB places #8 of the 40 assets tracked against CL. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with CL ahead by 21.8 points (+10.4% versus -11.4%). This link changes with the market regime, having swung between 0.31 and 0.83 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.
CL vs KMB: side by side
| CL (Colgate-Palmolive) | KMB (Kimberly-Clark) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +10.4% | -11.4% |
| 5-year return | +32.0% | -2.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 16.9% | 19.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -29.0% | -34.1% |
| Market cap | $72.5B | $36.6B |
| P/E (trailing) | 36.2 | 21.7 |
| Dividend yield | 2.27% | 4.60% |
| Sector / category | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | CL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -5.4% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | +3.8% | -7.1% |
| 2024 | +16.6% | +11.8% |
| 2025 | -11.0% | -19.9% |
| 2026 | +17.2% | +11.9% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are CL and KMB good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.53 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 CL and KMB?
The CL/KMB correlation stands at 0.53 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.34, 5 years: 0.63), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is KMB a good diversifier for CL?
To a limited degree. At 0.53 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 0.53 mean?
A reading of 0.53 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/cl-vs-kmb.json
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Related comparisons
Hubs: CL correlations · KMB correlations
