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COLB vs HWC: Correlation

Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) and Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC) carry a correlation of 0.83, a very strong link.

Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology

Correlation (3Y)
0.83
very strong
Correlation (1Y)
0.87
last 12 months
Correlation (5Y)
0.82
long-run
Ann. covariance
894.1
%² · weekly, annualized

How correlated are COLB and HWC?

Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of COLB and HWC correlate at 0.83, very strong, meaning they move nearly in lockstep. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.87) sits close to the 3-year figure. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.82, with an annualized covariance of 894.1 %².

Few assets follow COLB as closely as HWC, which ranks #2 of 13 tracked partners. Twelve-month performance is nearly a tie, at +18.3% for COLB and +21.6% for HWC.

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.

COLB vs HWC: side by side

COLB (Columbia Banking System, Inc.)HWC (Hancock Whitney Corporation)
1-year return+18.3%+21.6%
5-year return+9.4%+89.0%
Volatility (ann.)35.2%30.7%
Beta vs S&P 5001.011.03
Max drawdown (3Y)-36.4%-23.9%
Market cap$8.7B$6.0B
P/E (trailing)12.114.7
Dividend yield4.79%2.53%
Sector / categoryUS ListedUS Listed
Lower P/E: COLB 12.1 vs 14.7Higher yield: COLB 4.79% vs 2.53%Smaller drawdown: HWC -23.9% vs -36.4%Higher 5y return: HWC +89.0% vs +9.4%
-12%0%+30%2025-09-052026-08-27
Both assets over the last year, indexed to 100 at the starting week. COLB · HWC

Year-by-year returns

YearCOLBHWC
2022-4.3%-1.2%
2023-5.9%+3.3%
2024+8.1%+16.1%
2025+9.4%+20.0%
2026+12.6%+19.5%

Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.

Are COLB and HWC good diversifiers for each other?

No. With a correlation of 0.83, COLB and HWC move nearly in lockstep, so holding both adds very little diversification.

FAQ

What is the correlation between COLB and HWC?

The COLB/HWC correlation stands at 0.83 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.87, 5 years: 0.82), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.

Is HWC a good diversifier for COLB?

No. With a correlation of 0.83, COLB and HWC move nearly in lockstep, so holding both adds very little diversification.

What does a correlation of 0.83 mean?

A reading of 0.83 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

JSON API · no key required
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/colb-vs-hwc.json

COLB vs HWC: 3-year weekly correlation 0.83COLB vs HWC0.83

Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:

[![COLB vs HWC correlation](https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/badge/colb-vs-hwc.svg)](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/colb-vs-hwc/)

No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.

Related comparisons

Hubs: COLB correlations · HWC correlations