MSFT vs XOM: Correlation
How closely do Microsoft (MSFT) and ExxonMobil (XOM) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of -0.22, which is negative.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are MSFT and XOM?
Over the past 3 years, MSFT and XOM moved with a correlation of -0.22, which is negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at -0.34 versus -0.22 over 3 years. Over 5 years the correlation is -0.09, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is -148.7 %².
Within MSFT's tracked universe of 39 assets, XOM comes in at #29 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: XOM led by 42.3 percentage points, +0.5% for MSFT against +42.8% for XOM. The rolling one-year correlation moved between -0.42 and 0.07 over the past three years, a moderate range.
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.
MSFT vs XOM: side by side
| MSFT (Microsoft) | XOM (ExxonMobil) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +0.5% | +42.8% |
| 5-year return | +73.3% | +237.9% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 27.5% | 24.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.12 | 0.01 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -34.5% | -20.1% |
| Market cap | $3,750.3B | $643.3B |
| P/E (trailing) | 28.1 | 20.1 |
| Dividend yield | 0.73% | 2.58% |
| Sector / category | Information Technology | Energy |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | MSFT | XOM |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -28.0% | +87.4% |
| 2023 | +58.2% | -6.3% |
| 2024 | +12.9% | +11.3% |
| 2025 | +15.6% | +16.0% |
| 2026 | +5.1% | +32.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are MSFT and XOM good diversifiers for each other?
By historical standards, yes. A correlation of -0.22 means the two rarely move for the same reasons.
FAQ
What is the correlation between MSFT and XOM?
The MSFT/XOM correlation stands at -0.22 on a 3-year window (1 year: -0.34, 5 years: -0.09), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is XOM a good diversifier for MSFT?
By historical standards, yes. A correlation of -0.22 means the two rarely move for the same reasons.
What does a correlation of -0.22 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/msft-vs-xom.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
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Free with attribution; caching and terms are described in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: MSFT correlations · XOM correlations
