ISRG vs VUG: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) carry a correlation of 0.55, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are ISRG and VUG?
On 3 years of weekly data the ISRG/VUG correlation comes out at 0.55, moderate. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.36) runs below the 3-year figure (0.55). The 5-year figure is 0.64, and annualized covariance runs at 334.1 %².
Among the 36 assets we track against ISRG, VUG ranks #9 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: VUG led by 38.3 percentage points, -22.1% for ISRG against +16.2% for VUG. On a rolling one-year basis the correlation drifted between 0.26 and 0.75, a moderate band. Note the risk asymmetry: ISRG runs 1.6 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.
ISRG vs VUG: side by side
| ISRG (Intuitive Surgical) | VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -22.1% | +16.2% |
| 5-year return | +4.0% | +78.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 31.1% | 19.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.20 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -45.6% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $131.5B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 42.5 | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.40% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | – | $372.0B |
| Sector / category | Health Care | ETF · US Style |
VUG, Vanguard's Large Growth fund, carries $372.0B under management, 146 holdings, a 0.03% expense ratio, a 0.40% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | ISRG | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -26.1% | -33.2% |
| 2023 | +27.1% | +46.8% |
| 2024 | +54.7% | +32.7% |
| 2025 | +8.5% | +19.4% |
| 2026 | -35.2% | +9.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
A structural note: 0.36% of VUG is ISRG itself, so the fund partly moves with the stock by construction.
Are ISRG and VUG good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.55 means ISRG and VUG share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
FAQ
What is the correlation between ISRG and VUG?
The ISRG/VUG correlation stands at 0.55 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.36, 5 years: 0.64), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is VUG a good diversifier for ISRG?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.55 means ISRG and VUG share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.55 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
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/isrg-vs-vug.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/isrg-vs-vug/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: ISRG correlations · VUG correlations
