NSC vs VIG: Correlation
Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) show a strong relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.60.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are NSC and VIG?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of NSC and VIG correlate at 0.60, strong. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.31) than the 3-year average (0.60). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.62, with an annualized covariance of 157.0 %².
By 3-year correlation, VIG places #10 of the 32 assets tracked against NSC. Over the last 12 months NSC came out ahead by 12.9 percentage points (+30.0% against +17.1%). The rolling one-year correlation moved between 0.35 and 0.78 over the past three years, a moderate range. Note the risk asymmetry: NSC runs 1.8 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.
NSC vs VIG: side by side
| NSC (Norfolk Southern) | VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +30.0% | +17.1% |
| 5-year return | +49.6% | +64.0% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 22.0% | 11.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.69 | 0.74 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -25.1% | -15.0% |
| Market cap | $78.1B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 30.1 | – |
| Dividend yield | 1.53% | 1.50% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.04% |
| Assets under management | – | $130.9B |
| Sector / category | Industrials | ETF · Dividend |
VIG, Vanguard's Large Blend fund, carries $130.9B under management, 333 holdings, a 0.04% expense ratio, a 1.50% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | NSC | VIG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -15.6% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | -1.6% | +14.5% |
| 2024 | +1.6% | +17.0% |
| 2025 | +25.6% | +14.2% |
| 2026 | +22.0% | +11.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are NSC and VIG good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.60 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
FAQ
What is the correlation between NSC and VIG?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between NSC and VIG is 0.60 over 3 years, 0.31 over 1 year and 0.62 over 5 years.
Is VIG a good diversifier for NSC?
To a limited degree. At 0.60 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
What does a correlation of 0.60 mean?
A reading of 0.60 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/nsc-vs-vig.json
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Related comparisons
Hubs: NSC correlations · VIG correlations
