NRG vs QQQ: Correlation
NRG Energy (NRG) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) show a moderate relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.38.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are NRG and QQQ?
Over the past 3 years, NRG and QQQ moved with a correlation of 0.38, which is moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.05) than the 3-year average (0.38). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.35, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 331.1 %².
Among the 31 assets we track against NRG, QQQ ranks #20 by 3-year correlation. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months QQQ outperformed by 48.1 percentage points (-21.8% for NRG against +26.3% for QQQ). The relationship is regime-dependent: the rolling one-year correlation swung between -0.01 and 0.68 over the past three years, so this pair behaves very differently depending on the market environment. Note the risk asymmetry: NRG runs 2.3 times the annualized volatility of the other leg, so equal-weighting the two is not an equal-risk position.
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.
NRG vs QQQ: side by side
| NRG (NRG Energy) | QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -21.8% | +26.3% |
| 5-year return | +191.5% | +95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 44.4% | 19.6% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.30 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -38.9% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $24.1B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 30.2 | – |
| Dividend yield | 1.61% | 0.44% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.18% |
| Assets under management | – | $452.8B |
| Sector / category | Utilities | 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 | NRG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -23.5% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | +69.4% | +54.9% |
| 2024 | +78.6% | +25.6% |
| 2025 | +78.9% | +20.8% |
| 2026 | -27.5% | +17.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are NRG and QQQ good diversifiers for each other?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.38 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between NRG and QQQ?
The NRG/QQQ correlation stands at 0.38 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.05, 5 years: 0.35), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is QQQ a good diversifier for NRG?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.38 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.38 mean?
A reading of 0.38 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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Related comparisons
Hubs: NRG correlations · QQQ correlations
