CTAS vs MA: Correlation
How closely do Cintas (CTAS) and Mastercard (MA) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.50, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are CTAS and MA?
Over the past 3 years, CTAS and MA moved with a correlation of 0.50, which is moderate. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.49) sits close to the 3-year figure. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.55, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 224.7 %².
By 3-year correlation, MA places #16 of the 38 assets tracked against CTAS. Twelve-month performance is nearly a tie, at -3.3% for CTAS and +0.8% for MA. On a rolling one-year basis the correlation drifted between 0.37 and 0.75, a moderate band.
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.
CTAS vs MA: side by side
| CTAS (Cintas) | MA (Mastercard) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -3.3% | +0.8% |
| 5-year return | +117.4% | +72.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 23.2% | 19.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.71 | 0.77 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -27.7% | -20.9% |
| Market cap | $81.7B | $518.4B |
| P/E (trailing) | 41.8 | 32.9 |
| Dividend yield | 0.87% | 0.56% |
| Sector / category | Industrials | Financials |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | CTAS | MA |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +3.0% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | +34.8% | +23.4% |
| 2024 | +22.2% | +24.2% |
| 2025 | +3.8% | +9.0% |
| 2026 | +9.4% | +4.2% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are CTAS and MA good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.50 means CTAS and MA share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
FAQ
What is the correlation between CTAS and MA?
The CTAS/MA correlation stands at 0.50 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.49, 5 years: 0.55), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is MA a good diversifier for CTAS?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.50 means CTAS and MA share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.50 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.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/ctas-vs-ma.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/ctas-vs-ma/)
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Related comparisons
Hubs: CTAS correlations · MA correlations
