SMP vs SPY: Correlation
How closely do Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.31, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are SMP and SPY?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of SMP and SPY correlate at 0.31, moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.19) than the 3-year average (0.31). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.37, with an annualized covariance of 157.2 %².
Out of 13 assets tracked against SMP, SPY lands near the bottom at #9. The last year tells two different stories: SPY led by 23.3 percentage points, -2.7% for SMP against +20.6% for SPY. Note the risk asymmetry: SMP runs 2.4 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.
SMP vs SPY: side by side
| SMP (Standard Motor Products, Inc.) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | -2.7% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | +1.1% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 35.3% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.75 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -44.8% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $0.8B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 9.4 | – |
| Dividend yield | 3.50% | 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 | SMP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -31.8% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | +18.0% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | -19.4% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | +23.4% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +3.1% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are SMP and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.31 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between SMP and SPY?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.31 over 3 years, with 0.19 over the last year and 0.37 over 5 years.
Is SPY a good diversifier for SMP?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.31 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.31 mean?
A reading of 0.31 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: SMP correlations · SPY correlations
