MPT vs VNQ: Correlation
How closely do Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPT) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.50, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are MPT and VNQ?
On 3 years of weekly data the MPT/VNQ correlation comes out at 0.50, moderate. Little has changed lately, as the 1-year reading of 0.44 lands near the 3-year figure. The 5-year figure is 0.55, and annualized covariance runs at 445.0 %².
In MPT's tracked universe of 11 assets, VNQ sits right near the top at #2. On 12-month performance VNQ holds a 12.4-point edge, -2.1% against +10.3%. One caveat on sizing: MPT is 3.2 times as volatile as the other leg, so an equal-dollar split is far from equal-risk.
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.
MPT vs VNQ: side by side
| MPT (Medical Properties Trust, Inc.) | VNQ (Vanguard Real Estate ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -2.1% | +10.3% |
| 5-year return | -69.8% | +9.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 53.6% | 16.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.05 | 0.59 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -55.9% | -17.5% |
| Market cap | $2.4B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 8.58% | 3.51% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.13% |
| Assets under management | – | $73.1B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · Real Estate |
VNQ is a Real Estate fund from Vanguard: $73.1B under management, 140 holdings, a 0.13% expense ratio, a 3.51% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | MPT | VNQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -49.0% | -26.3% |
| 2023 | -50.3% | +11.9% |
| 2024 | -11.5% | +4.8% |
| 2025 | +35.2% | +3.2% |
| 2026 | -16.3% | +12.5% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
Keep in mind that VNQ holds MPT at a 0.1% weight, which makes a slice of this correlation mechanical rather than coincidental.
Are MPT and VNQ good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.50 means MPT and VNQ 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 MPT and VNQ?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between MPT and VNQ is 0.50 over 3 years, 0.44 over 1 year and 0.55 over 5 years.
Is VNQ a good diversifier for MPT?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.50 means MPT and VNQ share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.50 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/mpt-vs-vnq.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/mpt-vs-vnq/)
Free with attribution; caching and terms are described in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: MPT correlations · VNQ correlations