LASR vs VRTX: Correlation
nLIGHT, Inc. (LASR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) show a negative relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is -0.24.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are LASR and VRTX?
Over the past 3 years, LASR and VRTX moved with a correlation of -0.24, which is negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (-0.35) runs below the 3-year figure (-0.24). Over 5 years the correlation is -0.09, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is -408.1 %².
Among the 11 assets we track against LASR, VRTX sits near the bottom by co-movement, at rank #8. The last year tells two different stories: LASR led by 15.7 percentage points, +56.4% for LASR against +40.7% for VRTX. Note the risk asymmetry: LASR runs 1.9 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.
LASR vs VRTX: side by side
| LASR (nLIGHT, Inc.) | VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +56.4% | +40.7% |
| 5-year return | +61.0% | +174.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 56.6% | 30.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.44 | 0.55 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -56.1% | -29.1% |
| Market cap | $2.6B | $138.8B |
| P/E (trailing) | – | 31.9 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sector / category | US Listed | Health Care |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | LASR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -57.7% | +31.5% |
| 2023 | +33.1% | +40.9% |
| 2024 | -22.3% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | +257.6% | +12.6% |
| 2026 | +19.9% | +20.8% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are LASR and VRTX good diversifiers for each other?
Yes: at -0.24, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
FAQ
What is the correlation between LASR and VRTX?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: -0.24 over 3 years, with -0.35 over the last year and -0.09 over 5 years.
Is VRTX a good diversifier for LASR?
Yes: at -0.24, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
What does a correlation of -0.24 mean?
A reading of -0.24 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/lasr-vs-vrtx.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/lasr-vs-vrtx/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: LASR correlations · VRTX correlations
