^GSPC vs. WMT
^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index, while WMT (Walmart Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC returned 13.61%/yr vs 19.77%/yr for WMT. At a 0.45 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
^GSPC vs. WMT - 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 WMT's 9.07% return. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC has underperformed WMT with an annualized return of 13.61%, while WMT has yielded a comparatively higher 19.77% annualized return.
^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%
WMT
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- -7.93%
- YTD
- 9.07%
- 6M
- 4.13%
- 1Y
- 28.71%
- 3Y*
- 34.18%
- 5Y*
- 22.42%
- 10Y*
- 19.77%
^GSPC vs. WMT - 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% |
WMT Walmart Inc. | 9.07% | 24.49% | 73.99% | 12.88% | -0.46% | 1.97% | 23.32% | 30.16% | -3.43% | 46.56% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^GSPC and WMT is -0.03, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.03 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 25, 1972 | 0.45 |
The correlation between ^GSPC and WMT shifts across timeframes, from -0.03 (1 year) to 0.45 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
^GSPC vs. WMT — Risk / Return Rank
^GSPC
WMT
^GSPC vs. WMT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) and Walmart Inc. (WMT). 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 | WMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.64 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.74 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.23 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.53 | 1.83 | +0.70 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.37 | 5.82 | +5.55 |
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Drawdowns
^GSPC vs. WMT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^GSPC drawdown since its inception was -56.78%, smaller than the maximum WMT drawdown of -77.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^GSPC and WMT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^GSPC | WMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.78% | -77.14% | +20.36% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.10% | -15.75% | +6.65% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.90% | -21.93% | +3.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.43% | -25.74% | +0.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.92% | -25.74% | -8.18% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.34% | -9.81% | +7.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.72% | -14.63% | +3.91% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.02% | 4.94% | -2.92% |
Volatility
^GSPC vs. WMT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) is 4.43%, while Walmart Inc. (WMT) has a volatility of 9.86%. This indicates that ^GSPC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than WMT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^GSPC | WMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.43% | 9.86% | -5.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.70% | 18.49% | -8.79% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.38% | 23.67% | -11.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.97% | 21.68% | -4.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.09% | 21.73% | -3.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^GSPC and WMT have a correlation of -0.03, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WMT has higher volatility (9.86%) compared to ^GSPC (4.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^GSPC dropped -56.78% vs WMT's -77.14%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.86 vs 1.22), 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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