GWW vs VIG: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, W. W. Grainger (GWW) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) 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 GWW and VIG?
On 3 years of weekly data the GWW/VIG correlation comes out at 0.53, moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.23) than the 3-year average (0.53). The 5-year figure is 0.59, and annualized covariance runs at 146.5 %².
By 3-year correlation, VIG places #15 of the 29 assets tracked against GWW. Over the last 12 months GWW came out ahead by 13.9 percentage points (+31.0% against +17.1%). The rolling one-year correlation moved between 0.25 and 0.72 over the past three years, a moderate range. Risk is not evenly split, since GWW 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.
GWW vs VIG: side by side
| GWW (W. W. Grainger) | VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +31.0% | +17.1% |
| 5-year return | +219.4% | +64.0% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 23.3% | 11.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.74 | 0.74 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -24.5% | -15.0% |
| Market cap | $62.2B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 34.0 | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.69% | 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 | GWW | VIG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +8.7% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | +50.5% | +14.5% |
| 2024 | +28.2% | +17.0% |
| 2025 | -3.4% | +14.2% |
| 2026 | +31.7% | +11.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
GWW represents 0.26% of VIG's portfolio, so part of any move in VIG is GWW itself, and the correlation between them is partly mechanical.
Are GWW and VIG good diversifiers for each other?
Somewhat, no more. With 0.53 correlation, most large moves hit both names, and the diversification benefit stays modest.
FAQ
What is the correlation between GWW and VIG?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between GWW and VIG is 0.53 over 3 years, 0.23 over 1 year and 0.59 over 5 years.
Is VIG a good diversifier for GWW?
Somewhat, no more. With 0.53 correlation, most large moves hit both names, and the diversification benefit stays modest.
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: GWW correlations · VIG correlations
