KMB vs USO: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Kimberly-Clark (KMB) and United States Oil Fund (USO) carry a correlation of -0.28, a negative link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are KMB and USO?
On 3 years of weekly data the KMB/USO correlation comes out at -0.28, negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: -0.38 over 1 year against -0.28 over 3. The 5-year figure is -0.22, and annualized covariance runs at -210.9 %².
Out of 27 assets tracked against KMB, USO lands near the bottom at #27. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with USO ahead by 85.5 points (-11.4% versus +74.1%). Across three years, the rolling one-year figure varied moderately, from -0.38 to -0.05. Risk is not evenly split, since USO carries 2.0 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.
KMB vs USO: side by side
| KMB (Kimberly-Clark) | USO (United States Oil Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -11.4% | +74.1% |
| 5-year return | -2.6% | +168.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.3% | 39.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.15 | -0.20 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -34.1% | -32.5% |
| Market cap | $36.6B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 21.7 | – |
| Dividend yield | 4.60% | – |
| Sector / category | Consumer Staples | ETF · Commodities |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | KMB | USO |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -1.6% | +29.0% |
| 2023 | -7.1% | -4.9% |
| 2024 | +11.8% | +13.4% |
| 2025 | -19.9% | -8.5% |
| 2026 | +11.9% | +88.0% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are KMB and USO good diversifiers for each other?
Yes: at -0.28, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
FAQ
What is the correlation between KMB and USO?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between KMB and USO is -0.28 over 3 years, -0.38 over 1 year and -0.22 over 5 years.
Is USO a good diversifier for KMB?
Yes: at -0.28, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
What does a correlation of -0.28 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, -0.28 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/kmb-vs-uso.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/kmb-vs-uso/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: KMB correlations · USO correlations
