INTC vs XLK: Correlation
How closely do Intel (INTC) and Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.50, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are INTC and XLK?
On 3 years of weekly data the INTC/XLK correlation comes out at 0.50, moderate. Little has changed lately, as the 1-year reading of 0.60 lands near the 3-year figure. The 5-year figure is 0.51, and annualized covariance runs at 755.4 %².
Among the 37 assets we track against INTC, XLK ranks #20 by 3-year correlation. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months INTC outperformed by 227.2 percentage points (+270.6% for INTC against +43.4% for XLK). On a rolling one-year basis the correlation drifted between 0.37 and 0.64, a moderate band. Risk is not evenly split, since INTC carries 2.6 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.
INTC vs XLK: side by side
| INTC (Intel) | XLK (Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +270.6% | +43.4% |
| 5-year return | +85.4% | +145.2% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 63.0% | 24.0% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 2.01 | 1.50 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -63.8% | -25.7% |
| Market cap | $486.8B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.45% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.08% |
| Assets under management | – | $115.4B |
| Sector / category | Information Technology | Sector ETF |
On the fund side, XLK sits in the Technology category at State Street Investment Management, with $115.4B under management, 73 holdings, a 0.08% expense ratio, a 0.45% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | INTC | XLK |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -46.6% | -27.7% |
| 2023 | +94.6% | +56.0% |
| 2024 | -59.6% | +21.6% |
| 2025 | +84.0% | +24.6% |
| 2026 | +149.6% | +31.3% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
INTC represents 2.92% of XLK's portfolio, so part of any move in XLK is INTC itself, and the correlation between them is partly mechanical.
Are INTC and XLK good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.50 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 INTC and XLK?
The INTC/XLK correlation stands at 0.50 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.60, 5 years: 0.51), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is XLK a good diversifier for INTC?
To a limited degree. At 0.50 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 0.50 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-xlk.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/intc-vs-xlk/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: INTC correlations · XLK correlations
