ALC vs. XPH
ALC (Alcon Inc.) is a stock, while XPH (SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF) is Health & Biotech Equities fund tracking the S&P Pharmaceuticals Select Industry Index. Over the past 5 years, ALC returned -0.88%/yr vs 5.10%/yr for XPH. At a 0.47 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
ALC vs. XPH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ALC achieves a -16.39% return, which is significantly lower than XPH's 11.13% return.
ALC
- 1D
- 0.77%
- 1M
- -3.84%
- YTD
- -16.39%
- 6M
- -18.19%
- 1Y
- -22.84%
- 3Y*
- -6.13%
- 5Y*
- -0.88%
- 10Y*
- —
XPH
- 1D
- 1.85%
- 1M
- 7.58%
- YTD
- 11.13%
- 6M
- 9.03%
- 1Y
- 54.24%
- 3Y*
- 15.94%
- 5Y*
- 5.10%
- 10Y*
- 5.26%
ALC vs. XPH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALC Alcon Inc. | -16.39% | -6.50% | 9.02% | 14.32% | -21.09% | 32.23% | 16.63% | -2.38% |
XPH SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF | 11.13% | 31.60% | 4.94% | 2.97% | -9.83% | -10.54% | 14.68% | 8.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between ALC and XPH is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.49 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 9, 2019 | 0.47 |
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Return for Risk
ALC vs. XPH — Risk / Return Rank
ALC
XPH
ALC vs. XPH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Alcon Inc. (ALC) and SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH). 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.
| ALC | XPH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -4.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.87 | 1.41 | -0.54 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.72 | 4.55 | -5.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.38 | 16.31 | -17.69 |
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Drawdowns
ALC vs. XPH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ALC drawdown since its inception was -37.33%, smaller than the maximum XPH drawdown of -48.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ALC and XPH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ALC | XPH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -37.33% | -48.03% | +10.70% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -32.01% | -11.97% | -20.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -37.33% | -23.57% | -13.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -37.33% | -31.63% | -5.70% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -35.97% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -34.14% | 0.00% | -34.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.83% | -17.21% | +5.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 16.62% | 3.33% | +13.29% |
Volatility
ALC vs. XPH - Volatility Comparison
Alcon Inc. (ALC) has a higher volatility of 7.29% compared to SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) at 6.16%. This indicates that ALC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XPH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ALC | XPH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.29% | 6.16% | +1.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.37% | 16.59% | +4.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 28.60% | 21.76% | +6.84% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.05% | 20.91% | +6.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.87% | 22.12% | +5.75% |
Dividends
ALC vs. XPH - Dividend Comparison
ALC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.24%, more than XPH's 0.69% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALC Alcon Inc. | 1.24% | 0.84% | 0.31% | 0.30% | 0.30% | 0.13% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XPH SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF | 0.69% | 0.83% | 1.58% | 1.28% | 1.64% | 0.95% | 0.47% | 0.64% | 0.65% | 0.67% | 0.63% | 7.15% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ALC and XPH have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ALC has higher volatility (7.29%) compared to XPH (6.16%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ALC dropped -37.33% vs XPH's -48.03%.
XPH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.51 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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