Correlation Between Merck and American Express

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

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

Diversification Opportunities for Merck and American Express

-0.01

Correlation Coefficient

Merck  American Express

Good diversification

The 3 months correlation between Merck and American is -0.01. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding Merck Company and American Express in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on American Express and Merck 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 Merck Company are associated (or correlated) with American Express. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of American Express has no effect on the direction of Merck i.e., Merck and American Express go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between Merck and American Express

Considering the 90-day investment horizon Merck Company is expected to under-perform the American Express. In addition to that, Merck is 1.09 times more volatile than American Express. It trades about -0.07 of its total potential returns per unit of risk. American Express is currently generating about -0.08 per unit of volatility. If you would invest  29,663  in American Express on December 29, 2024 and sell it today you would lose (2,461) from holding American Express or give up 8.3% of portfolio value over 90 days.

Time Period	3 Months [change]
Direction	Moves Against
Strength	Insignificant
Accuracy	100.0%
Values	Daily Returns

Merck Company  vs.  American Express

Merck Company

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Very Weak

Over the last 90 days Merck Company has generated negative risk-adjusted returns adding no value to investors with long positions. Despite latest uncertain performance, the Stock's basic indicators remain persistent and the latest mess on Wall Street may also be a sign of long-standing gains for the company institutional investors.

American Express

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Very Weak

Over the last 90 days American Express has generated negative risk-adjusted returns adding no value to investors with long positions. Even with latest abnormal performance, the Stock's basic indicators remain invariable and the latest agitation on Wall Street may also be a sign of long-running gains for the enterprise retail investors.

Pair Trading with Merck and American Express

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

The idea behind Merck Company and American Express 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 Anywhere module to track or share privately all of your investments from the convenience of any device.