Correlation Between American Express and Mastercard Incorporated

Can any of the company-specific risk be diversified away by investing in both American Express and Mastercard Incorporated at the same time? Although using a correlation coefficient on its own may not help to predict future stock returns, this module helps to understand the diversifiable risk of combining American Express and Mastercard Incorporated into the same portfolio, which is an essential part of the fundamental portfolio management process.

By analyzing existing cross correlation between American Express and Mastercard Incorporated, you can compare the effects of market volatilities on American Express and Mastercard Incorporated and check how they will diversify away market risk if combined in the same portfolio for a given time horizon. You can also utilize pair trading strategies of matching a long position in American Express with a short position of Mastercard Incorporated. Check out your portfolio center. Please also check ongoing floating volatility patterns of American Express and Mastercard Incorporated.

Diversification Opportunities for American Express and Mastercard Incorporated

0.93

Correlation Coefficient

American Express  Mastercard Incorporated

Almost no diversification

The 3 months correlation between American and Mastercard is 0.93. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding American Express and Mastercard Incorporated in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on Mastercard Incorporated and American Express is a relative statistical measure of the degree to which these equity instruments tend to move together. The correlation coefficient measures the extent to which returns on American Express are associated (or correlated) with Mastercard Incorporated. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of Mastercard Incorporated has no effect on the direction of American Express i.e., American Express and Mastercard Incorporated go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between American Express and Mastercard Incorporated

Assuming the 90 days trading horizon American Express is expected to generate 1.4 times more return on investment than Mastercard Incorporated. However, American Express is 1.4 times more volatile than Mastercard Incorporated. It trades about 0.18 of its potential returns per unit of risk. Mastercard Incorporated is currently generating about 0.18 per unit of risk. If you would invest  14,525  in American Express on September 17, 2024 and sell it today you would earn a total of  3,754  from holding American Express or generate 25.85% return on investment over 90 days.

Time Period	3 Months [change]
Direction	Moves Together
Strength	Very Strong
Accuracy	100.0%
Values	Daily Returns

American Express  vs.  Mastercard Incorporated

American Express

Risk-Adjusted Performance

14 of 100

Good

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in American Express are ranked lower than 14 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. Despite somewhat weak basic indicators, American Express sustained solid returns over the last few months and may actually be approaching a breakup point.

Mastercard Incorporated

Risk-Adjusted Performance

14 of 100

Good

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in Mastercard Incorporated are ranked lower than 14 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. Despite somewhat weak fundamental indicators, Mastercard Incorporated sustained solid returns over the last few months and may actually be approaching a breakup point.

Pair Trading with American Express and Mastercard Incorporated

The main advantage of trading using opposite American Express and Mastercard Incorporated positions is that it hedges away some unsystematic risk. Because of two separate transactions, even if American Express position performs unexpectedly, Mastercard Incorporated can make up some of the losses. Pair trading also minimizes risk from directional movements in the market. For example, if an entire industry or sector drops because of unexpected headlines, the short position in Mastercard Incorporated will offset losses from the drop in Mastercard Incorporated's long position.

The idea behind American Express and Mastercard Incorporated pairs trading is to make the combined position market-neutral, meaning the overall market's direction will not affect its win or loss (or potential downside or upside). This can be achieved by designing a pairs trade with two highly correlated stocks or equities that operate in a similar space or sector, making it possible to obtain profits through simple and relatively low-risk investment.

Check out your portfolio center.

Note that this page's information should be used as a complementary analysis to find the right mix of equity instruments to add to your existing portfolios or create a brand new portfolio. You can also try the Portfolio Comparator module to compare the composition, asset allocations and performance of any two portfolios in your account.