INTC vs QQQ: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Intel (INTC) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) carry a correlation of 0.50, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are INTC and QQQ?
Over the past 3 years, INTC and QQQ moved with a correlation of 0.50, which is moderate. The link has tightened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.63) runs above the 3-year figure (0.50). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.50, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 610.8 %².
Within INTC's tracked universe of 37 assets, QQQ comes in at #18 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: INTC led by 244.3 percentage points, +270.6% for INTC against +26.3% for QQQ. The rolling one-year correlation moved between 0.37 and 0.66 over the past three years, a moderate range. Note the risk asymmetry: INTC runs 3.2 times the annualized volatility of the other leg, so equal-weighting the two is not an equal-risk position.
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.
INTC vs QQQ: side by side
| INTC (Intel) | QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +270.6% | +26.3% |
| 5-year return | +85.4% | +95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 63.0% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 2.01 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -63.8% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $486.8B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.18% |
| Assets under management | – | $452.8B |
| Sector / category | Information Technology | 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 | INTC | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -46.6% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | +94.6% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | -59.6% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | +84.0% | +20.8% |
| 2026 | +149.6% | +17.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
Keep in mind that QQQ holds INTC at a 1.97% weight, which makes a slice of this correlation mechanical rather than coincidental.
Are INTC and QQQ good diversifiers for each other?
Somewhat, no more. With 0.50 correlation, most large moves hit both names, and the diversification benefit stays modest.
FAQ
What is the correlation between INTC and QQQ?
The INTC/QQQ correlation stands at 0.50 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.63, 5 years: 0.50), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is QQQ a good diversifier for INTC?
Somewhat, no more. With 0.50 correlation, most large moves hit both names, and the diversification benefit stays modest.
What does a correlation of 0.50 mean?
A reading of 0.50 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/intc-vs-qqq.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/intc-vs-qqq/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: INTC correlations · QQQ correlations
