NVS vs VRTX: Correlation
Novartis AG (NVS) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) show a moderate relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.40.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are NVS and VRTX?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of NVS and VRTX correlate at 0.40, moderate. The past 12 months show a tighter link (0.55) than the 3-year average (0.40). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.43, with an annualized covariance of 237.6 %².
Within NVS's tracked universe of 22 assets, VRTX comes in at #14 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: VRTX led by 15.1 percentage points, +25.6% for NVS against +40.7% for VRTX. Risk is not evenly split, since VRTX carries 1.5 times the volatility of the other side.
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.
NVS vs VRTX: side by side
| NVS (Novartis AG) | VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +25.6% | +40.7% |
| 5-year return | +103.5% | +174.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.6% | 30.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.25 | 0.55 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -20.0% | -29.1% |
| Market cap | $293.9B | $138.8B |
| P/E (trailing) | 23.4 | 31.9 |
| Dividend yield | 2.96% | 0.00% |
| Sector / category | US Listed | Health Care |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | NVS | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +8.1% | +31.5% |
| 2023 | +16.1% | +40.9% |
| 2024 | +0.0% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | +47.0% | +12.6% |
| 2026 | +15.6% | +20.8% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are NVS and VRTX good diversifiers for each other?
A fair diversifier. At 0.40, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
FAQ
What is the correlation between NVS and VRTX?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between NVS and VRTX is 0.40 over 3 years, 0.55 over 1 year and 0.43 over 5 years.
Is VRTX a good diversifier for NVS?
A fair diversifier. At 0.40, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
What does a correlation of 0.40 mean?
A reading of 0.40 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/nvs-vs-vrtx.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/nvs-vs-vrtx/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: NVS correlations · VRTX correlations
