GOVX vs SPY: Correlation
GeoVax Labs, Inc. (GOVX) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) show a weak relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.18.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are GOVX and SPY?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of GOVX and SPY correlate at 0.18, weak. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.15) sits close to the 3-year figure. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.23, with an annualized covariance of 603.5 %².
SPY is close to the least connected end of GOVX's tracked universe, ranking #12 of 16. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with SPY ahead by 116.8 points (-96.2% versus +20.6%). Risk is not evenly split, since GOVX carries 15.9 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.
GOVX vs SPY: side by side
| GOVX (GeoVax Labs, Inc.) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -96.2% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | -100.0% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 230.2% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 2.89 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -99.7% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | – | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 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 | GOVX | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -82.6% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | -42.7% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | -54.4% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | -93.1% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | -83.2% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are GOVX and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of 0.18, GOVX and SPY have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between GOVX and SPY?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.18 over 3 years, with 0.15 over the last year and 0.23 over 5 years.
Is SPY a good diversifier for GOVX?
Yes. With a correlation of 0.18, GOVX and SPY have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of 0.18 mean?
A reading of 0.18 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: GOVX correlations · SPY correlations
