^GSPC vs. XLU
^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index, while XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Utilities Equities fund tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC returned 13.61%/yr vs 9.20%/yr for XLU. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
^GSPC vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^GSPC achieves a 8.56% return, which is significantly higher than XLU's 5.04% return. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC has outperformed XLU with an annualized return of 13.61%, while XLU has yielded a comparatively lower 9.20% annualized return.
^GSPC
- 1D
- 0.50%
- 1M
- -0.93%
- YTD
- 8.56%
- 6M
- 8.85%
- 1Y
- 24.33%
- 3Y*
- 19.37%
- 5Y*
- 11.84%
- 10Y*
- 13.61%
XLU
- 1D
- 1.09%
- 1M
- -0.82%
- YTD
- 5.04%
- 6M
- 5.48%
- 1Y
- 12.50%
- 3Y*
- 13.79%
- 5Y*
- 9.41%
- 10Y*
- 9.20%
^GSPC vs. XLU - 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% |
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 5.04% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 12.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^GSPC and XLU is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 1998 | 0.49 |
Over the past year, the correlation between ^GSPC and XLU has dropped to 0.19 - well below their long-term average of 0.49, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
^GSPC vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
^GSPC
XLU
^GSPC vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU). 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 | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.15 | +0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.53 | 1.30 | +1.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.37 | 2.80 | +8.57 |
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Drawdowns
^GSPC vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^GSPC drawdown since its inception was -56.78%, which is greater than XLU's maximum drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^GSPC and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^GSPC | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.78% | -51.98% | -4.80% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.10% | -9.18% | +0.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.90% | -17.26% | -1.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.43% | -25.26% | -0.17% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.92% | -36.07% | +2.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.34% | -6.05% | +3.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.72% | -10.22% | -0.50% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.02% | 4.25% | -2.23% |
Volatility
^GSPC vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) is 4.43%, while State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) has a volatility of 5.59%. This indicates that ^GSPC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XLU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^GSPC | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.43% | 5.59% | -1.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.70% | 11.68% | -1.98% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.38% | 14.66% | -2.28% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.97% | 17.34% | -0.37% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.09% | 19.27% | -1.18% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^GSPC and XLU have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XLU has higher volatility (5.59%) compared to ^GSPC (4.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^GSPC dropped -56.78% vs XLU's -51.98%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.86 vs 0.81), 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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