IRWD vs QQQ: Correlation
How closely do Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.09, which is near-zero.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are IRWD and QQQ?
Over the past 3 years, IRWD and QQQ moved with a correlation of 0.09, which is near zero, meaning they move largely independently. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.12) sits close to the 3-year figure. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.10, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 159.8 %².
Out of 10 assets tracked against IRWD, QQQ lands near the bottom at #7. The last year tells two different stories: IRWD led by 210.2 percentage points, +236.5% for IRWD against +26.3% for QQQ. Risk is not evenly split, since IRWD carries 4.5 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.
IRWD vs QQQ: side by side
| IRWD (Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) | QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +236.5% | +26.3% |
| 5-year return | -68.1% | +95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 88.3% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.81 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -96.3% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $0.7B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 5.4 | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.18% |
| Assets under management | – | $452.8B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | 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 | IRWD | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +6.3% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | -7.7% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | -61.3% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | -23.9% | +20.8% |
| 2026 | +25.8% | +17.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are IRWD and QQQ good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of 0.09, IRWD and QQQ have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between IRWD and QQQ?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between IRWD and QQQ is 0.09 over 3 years, 0.12 over 1 year and 0.10 over 5 years.
Is QQQ a good diversifier for IRWD?
Yes. With a correlation of 0.09, IRWD and QQQ have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of 0.09 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.
Use this data
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Related comparisons
Hubs: IRWD correlations · QQQ correlations
