QQQ vs SO: Correlation
How closely do Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and Southern Company (SO) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of -0.15, which is negative.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are QQQ and SO?
On 3 years of weekly data the QQQ/SO correlation comes out at -0.15, negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (-0.25) sits close to the 3-year figure. The 5-year figure is 0.09, and annualized covariance runs at -48.9 %².
Within QQQ's tracked universe of 4755 assets, SO comes in at #4741 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: QQQ led by 27.7 percentage points, +26.3% for QQQ against -1.4% for SO. This link changes with the market regime, having swung between -0.34 and 0.28 on a rolling one-year basis.
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.
QQQ vs SO: side by side
| QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | SO (Southern Company) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +26.3% | -1.4% |
| 5-year return | +95.4% | +62.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.6% | 16.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.28 | -0.02 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -22.8% | -15.0% |
| Market cap | – | $102.4B |
| P/E (trailing) | – | 21.7 |
| Dividend yield | 0.44% | 3.32% |
| Expense ratio | 0.18% | – |
| Assets under management | $452.8B | – |
| Sector / category | ETF · US Growth & Tech | Utilities |
QQQ, Invesco's Large Growth fund, carries $452.8B under management, 104 holdings, a 0.18% expense ratio, a 0.44% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | QQQ | SO |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -32.6% | +8.2% |
| 2023 | +54.9% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | +25.6% | +21.7% |
| 2025 | +20.8% | +9.5% |
| 2026 | +17.7% | +4.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are QQQ and SO good diversifiers for each other?
Yes: at -0.15, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
FAQ
What is the correlation between QQQ and SO?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: -0.15 over 3 years, with -0.25 over the last year and 0.09 over 5 years.
Is SO a good diversifier for QQQ?
Yes: at -0.15, the two have gone their own ways historically, which is what genuine diversification looks like.
What does a correlation of -0.15 mean?
A reading of -0.15 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: QQQ correlations · SO correlations