DGRO vs PFG: Correlation
How closely do iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) and Principal Financial Group (PFG) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.69, which is strong.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are DGRO and PFG?
Over the past 3 years, DGRO and PFG moved with a correlation of 0.69, which is strong. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at 0.43 versus 0.69 over 3 years. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.72, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 180.1 %².
Among the 138 assets we track against DGRO, PFG ranks #37 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: PFG led by 22.9 percentage points, +21.0% for DGRO against +43.9% for PFG. Across three years, the rolling one-year figure varied moderately, from 0.44 to 0.81. One caveat on sizing: PFG is 2.0 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.
DGRO vs PFG: side by side
| DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) | PFG (Principal Financial Group) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +21.0% | +43.9% |
| 5-year return | +67.9% | +99.7% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 11.4% | 22.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.65 | 0.88 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -14.0% | -22.4% |
| Market cap | – | $24.0B |
| P/E (trailing) | – | 16.0 |
| Dividend yield | 1.89% | 2.84% |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% | – |
| Assets under management | $42.8B | – |
| Sector / category | ETF · Dividend | Financials |
DGRO is a Large Value fund from iShares: $42.8B under management, 383 holdings, a 0.08% expense ratio, a 1.89% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | DGRO | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -7.9% | +20.1% |
| 2023 | +10.5% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | +16.6% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | +15.7% | +18.4% |
| 2026 | +15.2% | +29.3% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
A structural note: 0.16% of DGRO is PFG itself, so the fund partly moves with the stock by construction.
Are DGRO and PFG good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.69 means DGRO and PFG 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 DGRO and PFG?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.69 over 3 years, with 0.43 over the last year and 0.72 over 5 years.
Is PFG a good diversifier for DGRO?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.69 means DGRO and PFG share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.69 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/dgro-vs-pfg.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/dgro-vs-pfg/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: DGRO correlations · PFG correlations
