COST vs PM: Correlation
How closely do Costco (COST) and Philip Morris International (PM) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.26, which is weak.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are COST and PM?
On 3 years of weekly data the COST/PM correlation comes out at 0.26, weak. The past 12 months show a tighter link (0.44) than the 3-year average (0.26). The 5-year figure is 0.25, and annualized covariance runs at 119.9 %².
Within COST's tracked universe of 33 assets, PM comes in at #21 by 3-year correlation. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with PM ahead by 21.2 points (-1.0% versus +20.2%). Do not treat this figure as fixed: across three years the rolling one-year correlation ranged all the way from -0.21 to 0.45.
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.
COST vs PM: side by side
| COST (Costco) | PM (Philip Morris International) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -1.0% | +20.2% |
| 5-year return | +116.3% | +133.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.8% | 23.1% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.45 | -0.01 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -20.7% | -20.6% |
| Market cap | $414.5B | $296.9B |
| P/E (trailing) | 48.1 | 26.7 |
| Dividend yield | 0.56% | 3.03% |
| Sector / category | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | COST | PM |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -19.0% | +12.3% |
| 2023 | +49.0% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | +39.6% | +34.3% |
| 2025 | -5.4% | +38.0% |
| 2026 | +8.9% | +20.8% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are COST and PM good diversifiers for each other?
A fair diversifier. At 0.26, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
FAQ
What is the correlation between COST and PM?
The COST/PM correlation stands at 0.26 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.44, 5 years: 0.25), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is PM a good diversifier for COST?
A fair diversifier. At 0.26, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
What does a correlation of 0.26 mean?
A reading of 0.26 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/cost-vs-pm.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/cost-vs-pm/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: COST correlations · PM correlations
