KEX vs QQQ: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Kirby Corporation (KEX) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) carry a correlation of 0.41, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are KEX and QQQ?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of KEX and QQQ correlate at 0.41, moderate. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.12) runs below the 3-year figure (0.41). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.38, with an annualized covariance of 270.7 %².
QQQ is close to the least connected end of KEX's tracked universe, ranking #7 of 10. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months KEX outperformed by 16.0 percentage points (+42.3% for KEX against +26.3% for QQQ). One caveat on sizing: KEX is 1.7 times as volatile as the other leg, so an equal-dollar split is far from equal-risk.
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.
KEX vs QQQ: side by side
| KEX (Kirby Corporation) | QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +42.3% | +26.3% |
| 5-year return | +160.1% | +95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 33.9% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.08 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -38.8% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $7.4B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 21.5 | – |
| 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 | KEX | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +8.3% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | +22.0% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | +34.8% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | +4.1% | +20.8% |
| 2026 | +26.9% | +17.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are KEX and QQQ good diversifiers for each other?
Reasonably. At 0.41, KEX and QQQ keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between KEX and QQQ?
The KEX/QQQ correlation stands at 0.41 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.12, 5 years: 0.38), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is QQQ a good diversifier for KEX?
Reasonably. At 0.41, KEX and QQQ keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.41 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, 0.41 describes how much the two returns move together: +1 is lockstep, 0 is independence, negative values mean opposite directions. It says nothing about which performed better.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/kex-vs-qqq.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/kex-vs-qqq/)
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Related comparisons
Hubs: KEX correlations · QQQ correlations
