KR vs WTRG: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Kroger (KR) and Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) carry a correlation of 0.36, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are KR and WTRG?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of KR and WTRG correlate at 0.36, moderate. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: 0.45 over 1 year against 0.36 over 3. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.33, with an annualized covariance of 166.1 %².
Among the 55 assets we track against KR, WTRG ranks #9 by 3-year correlation. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with WTRG ahead by 20.0 points (-14.4% versus +5.6%).
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.
KR vs WTRG: side by side
| KR (Kroger) | WTRG (Essential Utilities, Inc.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -14.4% | +5.6% |
| 5-year return | +37.3% | -5.2% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 23.4% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | -0.16 | -0.04 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -26.2% | -17.9% |
| Market cap | – | $11.5B |
| P/E (trailing) | 33.3 | 20.9 |
| Dividend yield | 1.79% | 3.36% |
| Sector / category | Consumer Staples | US Listed |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | KR | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +0.4% | -8.9% |
| 2023 | +5.0% | -19.4% |
| 2024 | +36.9% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | +4.3% | +9.4% |
| 2026 | -7.3% | +8.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are KR and WTRG good diversifiers for each other?
A fair diversifier. At 0.36, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
FAQ
What is the correlation between KR and WTRG?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.36 over 3 years, with 0.45 over the last year and 0.33 over 5 years.
Is WTRG a good diversifier for KR?
A fair diversifier. At 0.36, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
What does a correlation of 0.36 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, 0.36 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/kr-vs-wtrg.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/kr-vs-wtrg/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: KR correlations · WTRG correlations
