Correlation Between Merck and Prelude Therapeutics

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

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

Diversification Opportunities for Merck and Prelude Therapeutics

0.3

Correlation Coefficient

Merck  Prelude Therapeutics

Weak diversification

The 3 months correlation between Merck and Prelude is 0.3. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding Merck Company and Prelude Therapeutics in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on Prelude Therapeutics 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 Prelude Therapeutics. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of Prelude Therapeutics has no effect on the direction of Merck i.e., Merck and Prelude Therapeutics go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between Merck and Prelude Therapeutics

Considering the 90-day investment horizon Merck Company is expected to generate 0.21 times more return on investment than Prelude Therapeutics. However, Merck Company is 4.86 times less risky than Prelude Therapeutics. It trades about -0.06 of its potential returns per unit of risk. Prelude Therapeutics is currently generating about -0.02 per unit of risk. If you would invest  9,981  in Merck Company on December 1, 2024 and sell it today you would lose (756.00) from holding Merck Company or give up 7.57% of portfolio value over 90 days.

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

Merck Company  vs.  Prelude Therapeutics

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 abnormal 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.

Prelude Therapeutics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Very Weak

Over the last 90 days Prelude Therapeutics has generated negative risk-adjusted returns adding no value to investors with long positions. In spite of weak performance in the last few months, the Stock's essential indicators remain rather sound which may send shares a bit higher in April 2025. The latest tumult may also be a sign of longer-term up-swing for the firm shareholders.

Pair Trading with Merck and Prelude Therapeutics

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

The idea behind Merck Company and Prelude Therapeutics 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 Stock Screener module to find equities using a custom stock filter or screen asymmetry in trading patterns, price, volume, or investment outlook..