SLM vs SPY: Correlation
How closely do SLM Corporation (SLM) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.42, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are SLM and SPY?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of SLM and SPY correlate at 0.42, moderate. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.21) runs below the 3-year figure (0.42). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.50, with an annualized covariance of 199.8 %².
SPY is close to the least connected end of SLM's tracked universe, ranking #6 of 10. The last year tells two different stories: SPY led by 34.4 percentage points, -13.8% for SLM against +20.6% for SPY. Note the risk asymmetry: SLM runs 2.3 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.
SLM vs SPY: side by side
| SLM (SLM Corporation) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -13.8% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | +62.3% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 33.1% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.96 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -45.1% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $5.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 7.5 | – |
| Dividend yield | 1.94% | 1.01% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.09% |
| Assets under management | – | $795.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Large Cap |
SPY is a Large Blend fund from State Street Investment Management: $795.3B under management, 504 holdings, a 0.09% expense ratio, a 1.01% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | SLM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -13.5% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | +18.7% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | +47.3% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | -0.2% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +0.2% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are SLM and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Reasonably. At 0.42, SLM and SPY keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between SLM and SPY?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.42 over 3 years, with 0.21 over the last year and 0.50 over 5 years.
Is SPY a good diversifier for SLM?
Reasonably. At 0.42, SLM and SPY keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.42 mean?
On the −1 to +1 scale, 0.42 describes how much the two returns move together: +1 is lockstep, 0 is independence, negative values mean opposite directions. It says nothing about which performed better.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: SLM correlations · SPY correlations
