FAST vs VIG: Correlation
How closely do Fastenal (FAST) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) 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 FAST and VIG?
On 3 years of weekly data the FAST/VIG correlation comes out at 0.50, moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.33) than the 3-year average (0.50). The 5-year figure is 0.62, and annualized covariance runs at 144.0 %².
Among the 33 assets we track against FAST, VIG ranks #16 by 3-year correlation. On 12-month performance VIG holds a 13.0-point edge, +4.1% against +17.1%. On a rolling one-year basis the correlation drifted between 0.33 and 0.67, a moderate band. Risk is not evenly split, since FAST carries 2.0 times the volatility of the other side.
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.
FAST vs VIG: side by side
| FAST (Fastenal) | VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +4.1% | +17.1% |
| 5-year return | +105.5% | +64.0% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 24.0% | 11.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.63 | 0.74 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -21.9% | -15.0% |
| Market cap | $58.7B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 43.7 | – |
| Dividend yield | 1.80% | 1.50% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.04% |
| Assets under management | – | $130.9B |
| Sector / category | Industrials | ETF · Dividend |
VIG, Vanguard's Large Blend fund, carries $130.9B under management, 333 holdings, a 0.04% expense ratio, a 1.50% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | FAST | VIG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -24.3% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | +41.3% | +14.5% |
| 2024 | +13.5% | +17.0% |
| 2025 | +14.0% | +14.2% |
| 2026 | +29.5% | +11.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
A structural note: 0.24% of VIG is FAST itself, so the fund partly moves with the stock by construction.
Are FAST and VIG good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.50 means FAST and VIG 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 FAST and VIG?
The FAST/VIG correlation stands at 0.50 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.33, 5 years: 0.62), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is VIG a good diversifier for FAST?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.50 means FAST and VIG 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/fast-vs-vig.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/fast-vs-vig/)
Free with attribution; caching and terms are described in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: FAST correlations · VIG correlations
