USMV vs VRTX: Correlation
How closely do iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.41, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are USMV and VRTX?
Over the past 3 years, USMV and VRTX moved with a correlation of 0.41, which is moderate. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.43) sits close to the 3-year figure. Over 5 years the correlation is 0.42, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 123.4 %².
Within USMV's tracked universe of 125 assets, VRTX comes in at #99 by 3-year correlation. The last year tells two different stories: VRTX led by 30.6 percentage points, +10.1% for USMV against +40.7% for VRTX. On a rolling one-year basis the correlation drifted between 0.23 and 0.63, a moderate band. One caveat on sizing: VRTX is 3.1 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.
USMV vs VRTX: side by side
| USMV (iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF) | VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +10.1% | +40.7% |
| 5-year return | +42.3% | +174.5% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 9.9% | 30.3% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.51 | 0.55 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -9.4% | -29.1% |
| Market cap | – | $138.8B |
| P/E (trailing) | – | 31.9 |
| Dividend yield | 1.48% | 0.00% |
| Expense ratio | 0.15% | – |
| Assets under management | $23.6B | – |
| Sector / category | ETF · US Style | Health Care |
On the fund side, USMV sits in the Large Blend category at iShares, with $23.6B under management, 164 holdings, a 0.15% expense ratio, a 1.48% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | USMV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -9.4% | +31.5% |
| 2023 | +10.3% | +40.9% |
| 2024 | +15.7% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | +7.6% | +12.6% |
| 2026 | +9.1% | +20.8% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
Keep in mind that USMV holds VRTX at a 1.63% weight, which makes a slice of this correlation mechanical rather than coincidental.
Are USMV and VRTX good diversifiers for each other?
Reasonably. At 0.41, USMV and VRTX keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between USMV and VRTX?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.41 over 3 years, with 0.43 over the last year and 0.42 over 5 years.
Is VRTX a good diversifier for USMV?
Reasonably. At 0.41, USMV and VRTX keep a meaningful degree of independence, and combining them has historically reduced portfolio volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.41 mean?
Correlation ranges from −1 to +1. Values near +1 mean two assets move together, near 0 that they move independently, and negative values that they tend to move in opposite directions. It measures co-movement, not performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/usmv-vs-vrtx.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/usmv-vs-vrtx/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: USMV correlations · VRTX correlations
