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MS vs SF: Correlation

Morgan Stanley (MS) and Stifel Financial Corporation (SF) show a strong relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.76.

Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology

Correlation (3Y)
0.76
strong
Correlation (1Y)
0.57
last 12 months
Correlation (5Y)
0.74
long-run
Ann. covariance
583.1
%² · weekly, annualized

How correlated are MS and SF?

On 3 years of weekly data the MS/SF correlation comes out at 0.76, strong. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at 0.57 versus 0.76 over 3 years. The 5-year figure is 0.74, and annualized covariance runs at 583.1 %².

By 3-year correlation, SF places #8 of the 46 assets tracked against MS. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months MS outperformed by 41.1 percentage points (+47.1% for MS against +6.0% for SF).

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.

MS vs SF: side by side

MS (Morgan Stanley)SF (Stifel Financial Corporation)
1-year return+47.1%+6.0%
5-year return+142.0%+92.0%
Volatility (ann.)28.3%27.2%
Beta vs S&P 5001.431.23
Max drawdown (3Y)-29.2%-34.7%
Market cap$337.5B$12.2B
P/E (trailing)17.414.4
Dividend yield1.94%1.59%
Sector / categoryFinancialsUS Listed
Lower P/E: SF 14.4 vs 17.4Higher yield: MS 1.94% vs 1.59%Smaller drawdown: MS -29.2% vs -34.7%Higher 5y return: MS +142.0% vs +92.0%
-6%0%+53%2025-09-052026-08-27
Price paths over the last 12 months, both indexed to 100 at the start (weekly closes). MS · SF

Year-by-year returns

YearMSSF
2022-10.3%-15.6%
2023+13.9%+21.2%
2024+39.7%+56.4%
2025+45.2%+20.1%
2026+23.0%-2.3%

Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.

Are MS and SF good diversifiers for each other?

Only partially. A correlation of 0.76 means MS and SF 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 MS and SF?

The MS/SF correlation stands at 0.76 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.57, 5 years: 0.74), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.

Is SF a good diversifier for MS?

Only partially. A correlation of 0.76 means MS and SF share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.

What does a correlation of 0.76 mean?

A reading of 0.76 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.

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MS vs SF: 3-year weekly correlation 0.76MS vs SF0.76

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Related comparisons

Hubs: MS correlations · SF correlations