FTEK vs QQQ: Correlation
How closely do Fuel Tech, Inc. (FTEK) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.16, which is weak.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are FTEK and QQQ?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of FTEK and QQQ correlate at 0.16, weak. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.08) sits close to the 3-year figure. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.26, with an annualized covariance of 185.1 %².
QQQ is close to the least connected end of FTEK's tracked universe, ranking #10 of 13. The last year tells two different stories: QQQ led by 76.1 percentage points, -49.8% for FTEK against +26.3% for QQQ. One caveat on sizing: FTEK is 3.0 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.
FTEK vs QQQ: side by side
| FTEK (Fuel Tech, Inc.) | QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -49.8% | +26.3% |
| 5-year return | -21.1% | +95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 58.1% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.70 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -67.2% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | – | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| 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 | FTEK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -9.3% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | -17.3% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | +0.0% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | +48.6% | +20.8% |
| 2026 | -6.4% | +17.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are FTEK and QQQ good diversifiers for each other?
By historical standards, yes. A correlation of 0.16 means the two rarely move for the same reasons.
FAQ
What is the correlation between FTEK and QQQ?
The FTEK/QQQ correlation stands at 0.16 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.08, 5 years: 0.26), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is QQQ a good diversifier for FTEK?
By historical standards, yes. A correlation of 0.16 means the two rarely move for the same reasons.
What does a correlation of 0.16 mean?
A reading of 0.16 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/ftek-vs-qqq.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/ftek-vs-qqq/)
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Related comparisons
Hubs: FTEK correlations · QQQ correlations
