FOUR vs. ^SP500TR

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

FOUR (Shift4 Payments, Inc.) is a stock, while ^SP500TR (S&P 500 Total Return) is an index. Over the past 5 years, FOUR returned -15.79%/yr vs 13.92%/yr for ^SP500TR. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

FOUR vs. ^SP500TR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR) and S&P 500 Total Return (^SP500TR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FOUR achieves a -36.13% return, which is significantly lower than ^SP500TR's 10.89% return.

FOUR

• 1D: -7.09%
• 1M: -8.57%
• YTD: -36.13%
• 6M: -42.62%
• 1Y: -57.74%
• 3Y*: -15.09%
• 5Y*: -15.79%
• 10Y*: —

^SP500TR

• 1D: -0.74%
• 1M: 5.02%
• YTD: 10.89%
• 6M: 10.93%
• 1Y: 28.06%
• 3Y*: 22.47%
• 5Y*: 13.92%
• 10Y*: 15.59%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

FOUR vs. ^SP500TR - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
FOUR Shift4 Payments, Inc.	-36.13%	-39.32%	39.60%	32.92%	-3.45%	-23.17%	124.81%
^SP500TR S&P 500 Total Return	10.89%	17.88%	25.02%	26.29%	-18.11%	28.71%	18.71%

Correlation

The correlation between FOUR and ^SP500TR is 0.40, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.40
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.46
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.52
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 8, 2020	0.49

The correlation between FOUR and ^SP500TR shifts across timeframes, from 0.40 (1 year) to 0.52 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

FOUR vs. ^SP500TR — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

FOUR

FOUR Risk / Return Rank: 4
FOUR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3
FOUR Sortino Ratio Rank: 4
FOUR Omega Ratio Rank: 4
FOUR Calmar Ratio Rank: 4
FOUR Martin Ratio Rank: 6

^SP500TR

^SP500TR Risk / Return Rank: 79
^SP500TR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 77
^SP500TR Sortino Ratio Rank: 77
^SP500TR Omega Ratio Rank: 77
^SP500TR Calmar Ratio Rank: 76
^SP500TR Martin Ratio Rank: 88

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

FOUR vs. ^SP500TR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR) and S&P 500 Total Return (^SP500TR). 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.

	FOUR	^SP500TR	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	-1.08	2.37	-3.45
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	-1.76	3.24	-5.00
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.78	1.43	-0.65
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.93	3.17	-4.10
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	-1.47	14.81	-16.29
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

FOUR vs. ^SP500TR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FOUR Sharpe Ratio is -1.08, which is lower than the ^SP500TR Sharpe Ratio of 2.37. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FOUR and ^SP500TR, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	FOUR	^SP500TR	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-1.08	2.37	-3.45
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.28	0.83	-1.11
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.87	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.05	0.65	-0.59

Drawdowns

FOUR vs. ^SP500TR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FOUR drawdown since its inception was -69.95%, which is greater than ^SP500TR's maximum drawdown of -55.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FOUR and ^SP500TR.

Drawdown Indicators

	FOUR	^SP500TR	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-69.95%	-55.25%	-14.70%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-62.34%	-8.89%	-53.45%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-67.99%	-18.75%	-49.24%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-69.68%	-24.49%	-45.19%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-33.79%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-67.99%	-0.74%	-67.25%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-31.53%	-8.17%	-23.36%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	39.22%	1.90%	+37.32%

Volatility

FOUR vs. ^SP500TR - Volatility Comparison

Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR) has a higher volatility of 19.73% compared to S&P 500 Total Return (^SP500TR) at 2.93%. This indicates that FOUR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ^SP500TR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	FOUR	^SP500TR	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	19.73%	2.93%	+16.80%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	45.74%	8.99%	+36.75%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	53.60%	11.89%	+41.71%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	56.20%	16.90%	+39.30%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	57.44%	18.07%	+39.37%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FOUR and ^SP500TR in my portfolio?

FOUR and ^SP500TR have a correlation of 0.40, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, FOUR or ^SP500TR?

FOUR has higher volatility (19.73%) compared to ^SP500TR (2.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FOUR dropped -69.95% vs ^SP500TR's -55.25%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

^SP500TR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.37 vs -1.08), 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.