NKTR vs SPY: Correlation
How closely do Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.31, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are NKTR and SPY?
On 3 years of weekly data the NKTR/SPY correlation comes out at 0.31, moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.13) than the 3-year average (0.31). The 5-year figure is 0.25, and annualized covariance runs at 676.4 %².
SPY is close to the least connected end of NKTR's tracked universe, ranking #10 of 14. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with NKTR ahead by 134.0 points (+154.6% versus +20.6%). One caveat on sizing: NKTR is 10.5 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.
NKTR vs SPY: side by side
| NKTR (Nektar Therapeutics) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +154.6% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | -67.2% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 152.4% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 3.24 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -73.2% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $2.5B | – |
| 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 | NKTR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -83.3% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | -75.2% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | +66.1% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | +203.1% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +76.3% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are NKTR and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.31 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between NKTR and SPY?
The NKTR/SPY correlation stands at 0.31 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.13, 5 years: 0.25), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is SPY a good diversifier for NKTR?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.31 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.31 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/nktr-vs-spy.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/nktr-vs-spy/)
Free with attribution; caching and terms are described in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: NKTR correlations · SPY correlations
