Correlation Between Microsoft and Basic Materials

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

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

Diversification Opportunities for Microsoft and Basic Materials

-0.08

Correlation Coefficient

Microsoft  Basic Materials

Good diversification

The 3 months correlation between Microsoft and Basic is -0.08. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding Microsoft and Basic Materials in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on Basic Materials and Microsoft 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 Microsoft are associated (or correlated) with Basic Materials. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of Basic Materials has no effect on the direction of Microsoft i.e., Microsoft and Basic Materials go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between Microsoft and Basic Materials

Given the investment horizon of 90 days Microsoft is expected to generate 1.04 times more return on investment than Basic Materials. However, Microsoft is 1.04 times more volatile than Basic Materials. It trades about 0.36 of its potential returns per unit of risk. Basic Materials is currently generating about 0.02 per unit of risk. If you would invest  39,044  in Microsoft on April 26, 2025 and sell it today you would earn a total of  12,044  from holding Microsoft or generate 30.85% return on investment over 90 days.

Time Period	3 Months [change]
Direction	Moves Against
Strength	Insignificant
Accuracy	98.39%
Values	Daily Returns

Microsoft  vs.  Basic Materials

Pair Trading with Microsoft and Basic Materials

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

The idea behind Microsoft and Basic Materials 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 Sectors module to list of equity sectors categorizing publicly traded companies based on their primary business activities.