GF vs SPY: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, New Germany Fund, Inc. (The) (GF) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) carry a correlation of 0.53, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are GF and SPY?
Over the past 3 years, GF and SPY moved with a correlation of 0.53, which is moderate. The past 12 months show a tighter link (0.70) than the 3-year average (0.53). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.62, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 158.6 %².
Among the 14 assets we track against GF, SPY ranks #6 by 3-year correlation. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months SPY outperformed by 17.8 percentage points (+2.8% for GF against +20.6% for SPY).
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.
GF vs SPY: side by side
| GF (New Germany Fund, Inc. (The)) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +2.8% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | -16.5% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 20.9% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.76 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -18.1% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | – | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 3.4 | – |
| Dividend yield | 1.29% | 1.01% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.09% |
| Assets under management | – | $795.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Large Cap |
SPY is a Large Blend fund from State Street Investment Management: $795.3B under management, 504 holdings, a 0.09% expense ratio, a 1.01% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | GF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -42.2% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | +11.7% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | -10.0% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | +48.3% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +3.9% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are GF and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.53 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
FAQ
What is the correlation between GF and SPY?
The GF/SPY correlation stands at 0.53 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.70, 5 years: 0.62), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is SPY a good diversifier for GF?
To a limited degree. At 0.53 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
What does a correlation of 0.53 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.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: GF correlations · SPY correlations
