Correlation Between Alibaba Group and Merck

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

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

Diversification Opportunities for Alibaba Group and Merck

0.11

Correlation Coefficient

Alibaba Group  Merck

Average diversification

The 3 months correlation between Alibaba and Merck is 0.11. Overlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding Alibaba Group Holding and Merck Company in the same portfolio, assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on Merck Company and Alibaba Group 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 Alibaba Group Holding are associated (or correlated) with Merck. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of Merck Company has no effect on the direction of Alibaba Group i.e., Alibaba Group and Merck go up and down completely randomly.

Pair Corralation between Alibaba Group and Merck

Assuming the 90 days trading horizon Alibaba Group Holding is expected to generate 1.14 times more return on investment than Merck. However, Alibaba Group is 1.14 times more volatile than Merck Company. It trades about 0.08 of its potential returns per unit of risk. Merck Company is currently generating about 0.08 per unit of risk. If you would invest  1,552,967  in Alibaba Group Holding on April 23, 2025 and sell it today you would earn a total of  159,533  from holding Alibaba Group Holding or generate 10.27% return on investment over 90 days.

Time Period	3 Months [change]
Direction	Moves Together
Strength	Insignificant
Accuracy	98.33%
Values	Daily Returns

Alibaba Group Holding  vs.  Merck Company

Alibaba Group Holding

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Modest

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in Alibaba Group Holding are ranked lower than 5 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. Despite somewhat weak basic indicators, Alibaba Group sustained solid returns over the last few months and may actually be approaching a breakup point.

Merck Company

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Modest

Compared to the overall equity markets, risk-adjusted returns on investments in Merck Company are ranked lower than 6 (%) of all global equities and portfolios over the last 90 days. Despite somewhat weak forward-looking signals, Merck may actually be approaching a critical reversion point that can send shares even higher in August 2025.

Pair Trading with Alibaba Group and Merck

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

The idea behind Alibaba Group Holding and Merck Company 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 Optimization module to compute new portfolio that will generate highest expected return given your specified tolerance for risk.