^GSPC vs. UNH
^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index, while UNH (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC returned 13.61%/yr vs 13.32%/yr for UNH. At a 0.40 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
^GSPC vs. UNH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^GSPC achieves a 8.56% return, which is significantly lower than UNH's 24.71% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with ^GSPC having a 13.61% annualized return and UNH not far behind at 13.32%.
^GSPC
- 1D
- 0.50%
- 1M
- -0.17%
- YTD
- 8.56%
- 6M
- 8.85%
- 1Y
- 22.93%
- 3Y*
- 19.37%
- 5Y*
- 11.84%
- 10Y*
- 13.61%
UNH
- 1D
- 0.73%
- 1M
- 1.83%
- YTD
- 24.71%
- 6M
- 20.44%
- 1Y
- 31.88%
- 3Y*
- -4.10%
- 5Y*
- 2.27%
- 10Y*
- 13.32%
^GSPC vs. UNH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 8.56% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
UNH UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 24.71% | -33.14% | -2.41% | 0.80% | 6.94% | 45.20% | 21.25% | 20.00% | 14.52% | 39.83% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^GSPC and UNH is 0.26, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 26, 1990 | 0.40 |
The correlation between ^GSPC and UNH shifts across timeframes, from 0.14 (3 years) to 0.40 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
^GSPC vs. UNH — Risk / Return Rank
^GSPC
UNH
^GSPC vs. UNH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ^GSPC | UNH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.27 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.19 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.53 | 1.11 | +1.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.37 | 2.43 | +8.95 |
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Drawdowns
^GSPC vs. UNH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^GSPC drawdown since its inception was -56.78%, smaller than the maximum UNH drawdown of -74.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^GSPC and UNH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^GSPC | UNH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.78% | -74.37% | +17.59% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.10% | -28.96% | +19.86% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.90% | -61.39% | +42.49% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.43% | -61.39% | +35.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.92% | -61.39% | +27.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.34% | -32.27% | +29.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.72% | -14.77% | +4.05% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.02% | 13.19% | -11.17% |
Volatility
^GSPC vs. UNH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) is 4.43%, while UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) has a volatility of 7.60%. This indicates that ^GSPC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UNH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^GSPC | UNH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.43% | 7.60% | -3.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.70% | 30.86% | -21.16% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.38% | 40.10% | -27.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.97% | 31.87% | -14.90% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.09% | 30.18% | -12.09% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^GSPC and UNH have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
UNH has higher volatility (7.60%) compared to ^GSPC (4.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^GSPC dropped -56.78% vs UNH's -74.37%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.86 vs 0.80), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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