DAR vs QQQ: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) carry a correlation of 0.14, a weak link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are DAR and QQQ?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of DAR and QQQ correlate at 0.14, weak. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (-0.04) runs below the 3-year figure (0.14). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.17, with an annualized covariance of 103.1 %².
Out of 13 assets tracked against DAR, QQQ lands near the bottom at #10. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with DAR ahead by 52.0 points (+78.3% versus +26.3%). One caveat on sizing: DAR is 1.9 times as volatile as the other leg, so an equal-dollar split is far from equal-risk.
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.
DAR vs QQQ: side by side
| DAR (Darling Ingredients Inc.) | QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +78.3% | +26.3% |
| 5-year return | -19.2% | +95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 37.8% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.63 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -56.0% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $9.7B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 16.8 | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.18% |
| Assets under management | – | $452.8B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Growth & Tech |
QQQ is a Large Growth fund from Invesco: $452.8B under management, 104 holdings, a 0.18% expense ratio, a 0.44% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | DAR | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -9.7% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | -20.4% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | -32.4% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | +6.9% | +20.8% |
| 2026 | +70.5% | +17.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are DAR and QQQ good diversifiers for each other?
Yes: at 0.14, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
FAQ
What is the correlation between DAR and QQQ?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between DAR and QQQ is 0.14 over 3 years, -0.04 over 1 year and 0.17 over 5 years.
Is QQQ a good diversifier for DAR?
Yes: at 0.14, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
What does a correlation of 0.14 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/dar-vs-qqq.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/dar-vs-qqq/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: DAR correlations · QQQ correlations
