RPM vs USO: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, RPM International Inc. (RPM) and United States Oil Fund (USO) carry a correlation of -0.40, a negative link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are RPM and USO?
Over the past 3 years, RPM and USO moved with a correlation of -0.40, which is negative, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at -0.58 versus -0.40 over 3 years. Over 5 years the correlation is -0.17, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is -390.3 %².
Among the 33 assets we track against RPM, USO sits near the bottom by co-movement, at rank #31. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months USO outperformed by 88.4 percentage points (-14.3% for RPM against +74.1% for USO). Risk is not evenly split, since USO carries 1.6 times the volatility of the other side.
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.
RPM vs USO: side by side
| RPM (RPM International Inc.) | USO (United States Oil Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -14.3% | +74.1% |
| 5-year return | +38.7% | +168.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 25.0% | 39.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.85 | -0.20 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -32.0% | -32.5% |
| Market cap | $13.5B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 20.7 | – |
| Dividend yield | 1.99% | – |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · Commodities |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | RPM | USO |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -1.7% | +29.0% |
| 2023 | +16.8% | -4.9% |
| 2024 | +12.1% | +13.4% |
| 2025 | -13.9% | -8.5% |
| 2026 | +3.2% | +88.0% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are RPM and USO good diversifiers for each other?
By historical standards, yes. A correlation of -0.40 means the two rarely move for the same reasons.
FAQ
What is the correlation between RPM and USO?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between RPM and USO is -0.40 over 3 years, -0.58 over 1 year and -0.17 over 5 years.
Is USO a good diversifier for RPM?
By historical standards, yes. A correlation of -0.40 means the two rarely move for the same reasons.
What does a correlation of -0.40 mean?
A reading of -0.40 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/rpm-vs-uso.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/rpm-vs-uso/)
No key needed, free to use. Full endpoint list in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: RPM correlations · USO correlations
