QQQ vs VRCA: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRCA) carry a correlation of 0.21, a weak link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are QQQ and VRCA?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of QQQ and VRCA correlate at 0.21, weak. Lately the two have moved closer together, with the 1-year correlation at 0.36 versus 0.21 over 3 years. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.17, with an annualized covariance of 482.7 %².
By 3-year correlation, VRCA places #2748 of the 4755 assets tracked against QQQ. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months QQQ outperformed by 36.7 percentage points (+26.3% for QQQ against -10.4% for VRCA). Note the risk asymmetry: VRCA runs 6.1 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.
QQQ vs VRCA: side by side
| QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | VRCA (Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +26.3% | -10.4% |
| 5-year return | +95.4% | -95.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.6% | 119.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.28 | 1.72 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -22.8% | -96.6% |
| Market cap | – | $0.1B |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Expense ratio | 0.18% | – |
| Assets under management | $452.8B | – |
| Sector / category | ETF · US Growth & Tech | US Listed |
QQQ is a Large Growth fund from Invesco: $452.8B under management, 104 holdings, a 0.18% expense ratio, a 0.44% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | QQQ | VRCA |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -32.6% | -70.0% |
| 2023 | +54.9% | +166.2% |
| 2024 | +25.6% | -90.4% |
| 2025 | +20.8% | +18.7% |
| 2026 | +17.7% | -39.0% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are QQQ and VRCA good diversifiers for each other?
Reasonably. At 0.21, QQQ and VRCA keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between QQQ and VRCA?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.21 over 3 years, with 0.36 over the last year and 0.17 over 5 years.
Is VRCA a good diversifier for QQQ?
Reasonably. At 0.21, QQQ and VRCA keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.21 mean?
A reading of 0.21 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/qqq-vs-vrca.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/qqq-vs-vrca/)
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Related comparisons
Hubs: QQQ correlations · VRCA correlations
