Correlation Between ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants

Can any of the company-specific risk be diversified away by investing in both ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants 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 ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants into the same portfolio, which is an essential part of the fundamental portfolio management process.

By analyzing existing cross correlation between ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants, you can compare the effects of market volatilities on ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants 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 ESSA Bancorp with a short position of First Merchants. Check out your portfolio center. Please also check ongoing floating volatility patterns of ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants.

Diversification Opportunities for ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants

0.81

Correlation Coefficient

ESSA Bancorp  First Merchants

Very poor diversification

The 3 months correlation between ESSA and First is 0.81. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on First Merchants and ESSA Bancorp 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 ESSA Bancorp are associated (or correlated) with First Merchants. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of First Merchants has no effect on the direction of ESSA Bancorp i.e., ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants

Given the investment horizon of 90 days ESSA Bancorp is expected to generate 0.9 times more return on investment than First Merchants. However, ESSA Bancorp is 1.11 times less risky than First Merchants. It trades about 0.12 of its potential returns per unit of risk. First Merchants is currently generating about 0.11 per unit of risk. If you would invest  1,780  in ESSA Bancorp on September 4, 2024 and sell it today you would earn a total of  318.00  from holding ESSA Bancorp or generate 17.87% return on investment over 90 days.

Time Period	3 Months [change]
Direction	Moves Together
Strength	Strong
Accuracy	98.44%
Values	Daily Returns

ESSA Bancorp  vs.  First Merchants

ESSA Bancorp

Risk-Adjusted Performance

9 of 100

OK

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in ESSA Bancorp are ranked lower than 9 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. Despite somewhat unsteady basic indicators, ESSA Bancorp sustained solid returns over the last few months and may actually be approaching a breakup point.

First Merchants

Risk-Adjusted Performance

8 of 100

OK

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in First Merchants are ranked lower than 8 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. In spite of rather weak primary indicators, First Merchants exhibited solid returns over the last few months and may actually be approaching a breakup point.

Pair Trading with ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants

The main advantage of trading using opposite ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants positions is that it hedges away some unsystematic risk. Because of two separate transactions, even if ESSA Bancorp position performs unexpectedly, First Merchants 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 First Merchants will offset losses from the drop in First Merchants' long position.

The idea behind ESSA Bancorp and First Merchants 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.

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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 Optimization module to compute new portfolio that will generate highest expected return given your specified tolerance for risk.