QQQ vs XELB: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and Xcel Brands, Inc (XELB) carry a correlation of 0.22, a weak link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are QQQ and XELB?
Over the past 3 years, QQQ and XELB moved with a correlation of 0.22, which is weak. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: 0.28 over 1 year against 0.22 over 3. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.22, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 371.2 %².
By 3-year correlation, XELB places #2616 of the 4755 assets tracked against QQQ. The last year tells two different stories: QQQ led by 56.8 percentage points, +26.3% for QQQ against -30.5% for XELB. One caveat on sizing: XELB is 4.4 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.
QQQ vs XELB: side by side
| QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) | XELB (Xcel Brands, Inc) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +26.3% | -30.5% |
| 5-year return | +95.4% | -94.9% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 19.6% | 86.2% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.28 | 1.33 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -22.8% | -95.5% |
| Market cap | – | – |
| 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 |
On the fund side, QQQ sits in the Large Growth category at Invesco, with $452.8B under management, 104 holdings, a 0.18% expense ratio, a 0.44% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | QQQ | XELB |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -32.6% | -35.8% |
| 2023 | +54.9% | +84.2% |
| 2024 | +25.6% | -60.1% |
| 2025 | +20.8% | -79.0% |
| 2026 | +17.7% | -13.2% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are QQQ and XELB good diversifiers for each other?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.22 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between QQQ and XELB?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.22 over 3 years, with 0.28 over the last year and 0.22 over 5 years.
Is XELB a good diversifier for QQQ?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.22 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.22 mean?
A reading of 0.22 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-xelb.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/qqq-vs-xelb/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: QQQ correlations · XELB correlations
