MA vs PAYX: Correlation
Mastercard (MA) and Paychex (PAYX) show a moderate relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.54.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are MA and PAYX?
On 3 years of weekly data the MA/PAYX correlation comes out at 0.54, moderate. Little has changed lately, as the 1-year reading of 0.52 lands near the 3-year figure. The 5-year figure is 0.54, and annualized covariance runs at 220.7 %².
Among the 46 assets we track against MA, PAYX ranks #20 by 3-year correlation. Over the last 12 months MA came out ahead by 5.6 percentage points (+0.8% against -4.8%). On a rolling one-year basis the correlation drifted between 0.42 and 0.69, a moderate band.
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.
MA vs PAYX: side by side
| MA (Mastercard) | PAYX (Paychex) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +0.8% | -4.8% |
| 5-year return | +72.6% | +29.0% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.3% | 21.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.77 | 0.47 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -20.9% | -45.0% |
| Market cap | $518.4B | $45.0B |
| P/E (trailing) | 32.9 | 25.5 |
| Dividend yield | 0.56% | 0.00% |
| Sector / category | Financials | Industrials |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | MA | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -2.7% | -13.2% |
| 2023 | +23.4% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | +24.2% | +21.3% |
| 2025 | +9.0% | -17.5% |
| 2026 | +4.2% | +16.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are MA and PAYX good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.54 means MA and PAYX share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
FAQ
What is the correlation between MA and PAYX?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between MA and PAYX is 0.54 over 3 years, 0.52 over 1 year and 0.54 over 5 years.
Is PAYX a good diversifier for MA?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.54 means MA and PAYX share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.54 mean?
Correlation ranges from −1 to +1. Values near +1 mean two assets move together, near 0 that they move independently, and negative values that they tend to move in opposite directions. It measures co-movement, not performance.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: MA correlations · PAYX correlations
