DGX vs WTRG: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) carry a correlation of 0.41, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are DGX and WTRG?
Over the past 3 years, DGX and WTRG moved with a correlation of 0.41, which is moderate. The link has tightened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.56) runs above the 3-year figure (0.41). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.40, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 155.1 %².
Within DGX's tracked universe of 32 assets, WTRG comes in at #10 by 3-year correlation. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months DGX outperformed by 32.9 percentage points (+38.5% for DGX against +5.6% for WTRG).
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.
DGX vs WTRG: side by side
| DGX (Quest Diagnostics) | WTRG (Essential Utilities, Inc.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +38.5% | +5.6% |
| 5-year return | +78.8% | -5.2% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.1% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.09 | -0.04 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -12.4% | -17.9% |
| Market cap | $27.0B | $11.5B |
| P/E (trailing) | 26.0 | 20.9 |
| Dividend yield | 1.36% | 3.36% |
| Sector / category | Health Care | US Listed |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | DGX | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -7.8% | -8.9% |
| 2023 | -10.1% | -19.4% |
| 2024 | +11.8% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | +17.2% | +9.4% |
| 2026 | +42.8% | +8.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are DGX and WTRG good diversifiers for each other?
A fair diversifier. At 0.41, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
FAQ
What is the correlation between DGX and WTRG?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.41 over 3 years, with 0.56 over the last year and 0.40 over 5 years.
Is WTRG a good diversifier for DGX?
A fair diversifier. At 0.41, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
What does a correlation of 0.41 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, 0.41 describes how much the two returns move together: +1 is lockstep, 0 is independence, negative values mean opposite directions. It says nothing about which performed better.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/dgx-vs-wtrg.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/dgx-vs-wtrg/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: DGX correlations · WTRG correlations
