Correlation Between Merck and Agilent Technologies

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

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

Diversification Opportunities for Merck and Agilent Technologies

Very good diversification

The 3 months correlation between Merck and Agilent is -0.29. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding Merck Company and Agilent Technologies in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on Agilent Technologies 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 Agilent Technologies. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of Agilent Technologies has no effect on the direction of Merck i.e., Merck and Agilent Technologies go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between Merck and Agilent Technologies

Considering the 90-day investment horizon Merck Company is expected to generate 0.72 times more return on investment than Agilent Technologies. However, Merck Company is 1.4 times less risky than Agilent Technologies. It trades about 0.05 of its potential returns per unit of risk. Agilent Technologies is currently generating about -0.02 per unit of risk. If you would invest  7,674  in Merck Company on June 27, 2023 and sell it today you would earn a total of  2,960  from holding Merck Company or generate 38.57% return on investment over 90 days.

Merck Company  vs.  Agilent Technologies

Merck Company

Merck Performance

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Over the last 90 days Merck Company has generated negative risk-adjusted returns adding no value to investors with long positions. Despite quite persistent basic indicators, Merck is not utilizing all of its potentials. The current stock price mess, may contribute to short-term losses for the institutional investors.

Agilent Technologies

Agilent Performance

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Over the last 90 days Agilent Technologies has generated negative risk-adjusted returns adding no value to investors with long positions. Despite somewhat strong basic indicators, Agilent Technologies is not utilizing all of its potentials. The latest stock price disturbance, may contribute to short-term losses for the investors.

Pair Trading with Merck and Agilent Technologies

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

The idea behind Merck Company and Agilent Technologies 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.

Check out your portfolio center. 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 Fundamental Analysis module to view fundamental data based on most recent published financial statements.