MO vs QQQ: Correlation
Altria (MO) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) show a negative relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is -0.18.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are MO and QQQ?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of MO and QQQ correlate at -0.18, negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at -0.39 versus -0.18 over 3 years. Stretching to 5 years gives -0.01, with an annualized covariance of -76.5 %².
By 3-year correlation, QQQ places #25 of the 49 assets tracked against MO. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months QQQ outperformed by 17.5 percentage points (+8.8% for MO against +26.3% for QQQ). This link changes with the market regime, having swung between -0.40 and 0.25 on a rolling one-year basis.
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.
MO vs QQQ: side by side
| MO (Altria) | QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +8.8% | +26.3% |
| 5-year return | +100.4% | +95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 21.8% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | -0.07 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -16.4% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $113.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 14.6 | – |
| Dividend yield | 6.13% | 0.44% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.18% |
| Assets under management | – | $452.8B |
| Sector / category | Consumer Staples | ETF · US Growth & Tech |
QQQ is a Large Growth fund from Invesco: $452.8B under management, 104 holdings, a 0.18% expense ratio, a 0.44% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | MO | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +4.4% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | -3.7% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | +40.8% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | +18.2% | +20.8% |
| 2026 | +21.1% | +17.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are MO and QQQ good diversifiers for each other?
Yes: at -0.18, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
FAQ
What is the correlation between MO and QQQ?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between MO and QQQ is -0.18 over 3 years, -0.39 over 1 year and -0.01 over 5 years.
Is QQQ a good diversifier for MO?
Yes: at -0.18, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
What does a correlation of -0.18 mean?
A reading of -0.18 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
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Related comparisons
Hubs: MO correlations · QQQ correlations
