PFE vs XLV: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Pfizer (PFE) and Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) carry a correlation of 0.53, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are PFE and XLV?
Over the past 3 years, PFE and XLV moved with a correlation of 0.53, which is moderate. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: 0.46 over 1 year against 0.53 over 3. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.57, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 184.2 %².
In PFE's tracked universe of 32 assets, XLV sits right near the top at #1. Over the last 12 months XLV came out ahead by 7.9 percentage points (+19.6% against +27.5%). Across three years, the rolling one-year figure varied moderately, from 0.40 to 0.73. One caveat on sizing: PFE is 1.6 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.
PFE vs XLV: side by side
| PFE (Pfizer) | XLV (Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +19.6% | +27.5% |
| 5-year return | -21.9% | +37.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 23.8% | 14.7% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.40 | 0.42 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -34.8% | -17.1% |
| Market cap | $159.7B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 37.4 | – |
| Dividend yield | 6.08% | 1.56% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.08% |
| Assets under management | – | $41.7B |
| Sector / category | Health Care | Sector ETF |
On the fund side, XLV sits in the Health category at State Street Investment Management, with $41.7B under management, 61 holdings, a 0.08% expense ratio, a 1.56% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | PFE | XLV |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -10.4% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | -41.3% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | -2.2% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | +0.6% | +14.5% |
| 2026 | +18.3% | +11.8% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
PFE represents 2.58% of XLV's portfolio, so part of any move in XLV is PFE itself, and the correlation between them is partly mechanical.
Are PFE and XLV good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.53 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 PFE and XLV?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.53 over 3 years, with 0.46 over the last year and 0.57 over 5 years.
Is XLV a good diversifier for PFE?
To a limited degree. At 0.53 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 0.53 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/pfe-vs-xlv.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/pfe-vs-xlv/)
Free with attribution; caching and terms are described in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: PFE correlations · XLV correlations
