MCD vs USO: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, McDonald's (MCD) and United States Oil Fund (USO) carry a correlation of -0.24, a negative link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are MCD and USO?
Over the past 3 years, MCD and USO moved with a correlation of -0.24, which is negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (-0.24) sits close to the 3-year figure. Over 5 years the correlation is -0.14, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is -164.8 %².
Among the 34 assets we track against MCD, USO sits near the bottom by co-movement, at rank #30. The last year tells two different stories: USO led by 88.6 percentage points, -14.5% for MCD against +74.1% for USO. This link changes with the market regime, having swung between -0.44 and 0.09 on a rolling one-year basis. Risk is not evenly split, since USO carries 2.2 times the volatility of the other side.
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.
MCD vs USO: side by side
| MCD (McDonald's) | USO (United States Oil Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -14.5% | +74.1% |
| 5-year return | +23.3% | +168.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 17.8% | 39.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.30 | -0.20 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -22.8% | -32.5% |
| Market cap | $184.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 21.7 | – |
| Dividend yield | 2.75% | – |
| Sector / category | Consumer Discretionary | ETF · Commodities |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | MCD | USO |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +0.5% | +29.0% |
| 2023 | +15.1% | -4.9% |
| 2024 | +0.1% | +13.4% |
| 2025 | +7.9% | -8.5% |
| 2026 | -13.9% | +88.0% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are MCD and USO good diversifiers for each other?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.24, MCD and USO have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
FAQ
What is the correlation between MCD and USO?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: -0.24 over 3 years, with -0.24 over the last year and -0.14 over 5 years.
Is USO a good diversifier for MCD?
Yes. With a correlation of -0.24, MCD and USO have moved largely independently, which makes them a genuinely diversifying pair by historical standards.
What does a correlation of -0.24 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.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/mcd-vs-uso.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/mcd-vs-uso/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: MCD correlations · USO correlations
