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LULU vs XLY: Correlation

How closely do Lululemon Athletica (LULU) and Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.45, which is moderate.

Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology

Correlation (3Y)
0.45
moderate
Correlation (1Y)
0.45
last 12 months
Correlation (5Y)
0.54
long-run
Ann. covariance
371.0
%² · weekly, annualized

How correlated are LULU and XLY?

Over the past 3 years, LULU and XLY moved with a correlation of 0.45, which is moderate. Little has changed lately, as the 1-year reading of 0.45 lands near the 3-year figure. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.54, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 371.0 %².

By 3-year correlation, XLY places #5 of the 34 assets tracked against LULU. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with XLY ahead by 44.0 points (-44.1% versus -0.1%). The rolling one-year correlation moved between 0.16 and 0.62 over the past three years, a moderate range. Note the risk asymmetry: LULU runs 2.1 times the annualized volatility of the other leg, so equal-weighting the two is not an equal-risk position.

+1.0+0.50-0.5-1.020232026-08-27
One-year correlation, rolled weekly across the last three years.
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.

LULU vs XLY: side by side

LULU (Lululemon Athletica)XLY (Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund)
1-year return-44.1%-0.1%
5-year return-72.3%+31.8%
Volatility (ann.)41.8%19.7%
Beta vs S&P 5000.981.15
Max drawdown (3Y)-79.4%-26.0%
Market cap$13.1B
P/E (trailing)9.4
Dividend yield0.00%0.78%
Expense ratio0.08%
Assets under management$22.5B
Sector / categoryConsumer DiscretionarySector ETF
Higher yield: XLY 0.78% vs 0.00%Smaller drawdown: XLY -26.0% vs -79.4%Higher 5y return: XLY +31.8% vs -72.3%

XLY is a Consumer Cyclical fund from State Street Investment Management: $22.5B under management, 47 holdings, a 0.08% expense ratio, a 0.78% trailing dividend yield.

-33%0%+26%2025-09-052026-08-27
Price paths over the last 12 months, both indexed to 100 at the start (weekly closes). LULU · XLY

Year-by-year returns

YearLULUXLY
2022-18.2%-36.3%
2023+59.6%+39.6%
2024-25.2%+26.5%
2025-45.7%+7.4%
2026-44.7%-2.6%

Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.

Fund exposure

Keep in mind that XLY holds LULU at a 0.3% weight, which makes a slice of this correlation mechanical rather than coincidental.

Are LULU and XLY good diversifiers for each other?

Reasonably. At 0.45, LULU and XLY keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.

FAQ

What is the correlation between LULU and XLY?

Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.45 over 3 years, with 0.45 over the last year and 0.54 over 5 years.

Is XLY a good diversifier for LULU?

Reasonably. At 0.45, LULU and XLY keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.

What does a correlation of 0.45 mean?

A reading of 0.45 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.

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LULU vs XLY: 3-year weekly correlation 0.45LULU vs XLY0.45

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Hubs: LULU correlations · XLY correlations