MED vs SPY: Correlation
How closely do MEDIFAST INC (MED) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.21, which is weak.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are MED and SPY?
Over the past 3 years, MED and SPY moved with a correlation of 0.21, which is weak. Lately the two have moved closer together, with the 1-year correlation at 0.45 versus 0.21 over 3 years. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.28, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 142.2 %².
SPY is close to the least connected end of MED's tracked universe, ranking #8 of 12. The last year tells two different stories: SPY led by 35.3 percentage points, -14.7% for MED against +20.6% for SPY. Note the risk asymmetry: MED runs 3.3 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.
MED vs SPY: side by side
| MED (MEDIFAST INC) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -14.7% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | -94.1% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 47.7% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.68 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -88.8% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $0.1B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.09% |
| Assets under management | – | $795.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Large Cap |
SPY is a Large Blend fund from State Street Investment Management: $795.3B under management, 504 holdings, a 0.09% expense ratio, a 1.01% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | MED | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -42.3% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | -38.3% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | -73.8% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | -39.4% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +13.9% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are MED and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Reasonably. At 0.21, MED and SPY keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between MED and SPY?
The MED/SPY correlation stands at 0.21 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.45, 5 years: 0.28), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is SPY a good diversifier for MED?
Reasonably. At 0.21, MED and SPY keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.21 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, 0.21 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.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: MED correlations · SPY correlations
