PFG vs VTV: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Principal Financial Group (PFG) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) carry a correlation of 0.71, a strong link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are PFG and VTV?
Over the past 3 years, PFG and VTV moved with a correlation of 0.71, which is strong. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.37) than the 3-year average (0.71). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.75, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 192.6 %².
Among the 32 assets we track against PFG, VTV ranks #6 by 3-year correlation. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months PFG outperformed by 18.2 percentage points (+43.9% for PFG against +25.7% for VTV). Across three years, the rolling one-year figure varied moderately, from 0.39 to 0.85. One caveat on sizing: PFG is 1.9 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.
PFG vs VTV: side by side
| PFG (Principal Financial Group) | VTV (Vanguard Value ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +43.9% | +25.7% |
| 5-year return | +99.7% | +79.1% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 22.9% | 11.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.88 | 0.65 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -22.4% | -14.5% |
| Market cap | $24.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 16.0 | – |
| Dividend yield | 2.84% | 1.86% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | – | $256.4B |
| Sector / category | Financials | ETF · US Style |
On the fund side, VTV sits in the Large Value category at Vanguard, with $256.4B under management, 308 holdings, a 0.03% expense ratio, a 1.86% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | PFG | VTV |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +20.1% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | -2.8% | +9.3% |
| 2024 | +1.9% | +16.0% |
| 2025 | +18.4% | +15.3% |
| 2026 | +29.3% | +19.3% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
A structural note: 0.09% of VTV is PFG itself, so the fund partly moves with the stock by construction.
Are PFG and VTV good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.71 means PFG and VTV share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
FAQ
What is the correlation between PFG and VTV?
The PFG/VTV correlation stands at 0.71 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.37, 5 years: 0.75), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is VTV a good diversifier for PFG?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.71 means PFG and VTV share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.71 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/pfg-vs-vtv.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/pfg-vs-vtv/)
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Related comparisons
Hubs: PFG correlations · VTV correlations
