Correlation Between Merck and Exxon

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

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

Diversification Opportunities for Merck and Exxon

-0.36

Correlation Coefficient

Merck  Exxon

Very good diversification

The 3 months correlation between Merck and Exxon is -0.36. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding Merck Company and Exxon Mobil Corp in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on Exxon Mobil Corp 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 Exxon. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of Exxon Mobil Corp has no effect on the direction of Merck i.e., Merck and Exxon go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between Merck and Exxon

Considering the 90-day investment horizon Merck Company is expected to under-perform the Exxon. In addition to that, Merck is 1.29 times more volatile than Exxon Mobil Corp. It trades about -0.1 of its total potential returns per unit of risk. Exxon Mobil Corp is currently generating about 0.14 per unit of volatility. If you would invest  10,554  in Exxon Mobil Corp on December 27, 2024 and sell it today you would earn a total of  1,235  from holding Exxon Mobil Corp or generate 11.7% return on investment over 90 days.

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

Merck Company  vs.  Exxon Mobil Corp

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.

Exxon Mobil Corp

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Good

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in Exxon Mobil Corp are ranked lower than 10 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. In spite of very weak basic indicators, Exxon may actually be approaching a critical reversion point that can send shares even higher in April 2025.

Pair Trading with Merck and Exxon

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

The idea behind Merck Company and Exxon Mobil Corp 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 Options Analysis module to analyze and evaluate options and option chains as a potential hedge for your portfolios.