LLY vs VRTX: Correlation
How closely do Lilly (Eli) (LLY) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.44, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are LLY and VRTX?
Over the past 3 years, LLY and VRTX moved with a correlation of 0.44, which is moderate. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: 0.43 over 1 year against 0.44 over 3. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.43, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 488.8 %².
Among the 29 assets we track against LLY, VRTX ranks #4 by 3-year correlation. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with LLY ahead by 20.5 points (+61.2% versus +40.7%). The relationship is regime-dependent: the rolling one-year correlation swung between -0.02 and 0.67 over the past three years, so this pair behaves very differently depending on the market environment.
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.
LLY vs VRTX: side by side
| LLY (Lilly (Eli)) | VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +61.2% | +40.7% |
| 5-year return | +369.2% | +174.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 36.6% | 30.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.57 | 0.55 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -34.5% | -29.1% |
| Market cap | $1,048.8B | $138.8B |
| P/E (trailing) | 40.0 | 31.9 |
| Dividend yield | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| Sector / category | Health Care | Health Care |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | LLY | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +34.3% | +31.5% |
| 2023 | +60.9% | +40.9% |
| 2024 | +33.3% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | +40.2% | +12.6% |
| 2026 | +10.0% | +20.8% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are LLY and VRTX good diversifiers for each other?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.44 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between LLY and VRTX?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between LLY and VRTX is 0.44 over 3 years, 0.43 over 1 year and 0.43 over 5 years.
Is VRTX a good diversifier for LLY?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.44 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.44 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, 0.44 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
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Related comparisons
Hubs: LLY correlations · VRTX correlations
