BCI vs. XLU
BCI (abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF) and XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BCI is a Commodities fund tracking the Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return, while XLU is a Utilities Equities fund tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BCI returned 9.82%/yr vs 10.41%/yr for XLU. At a 0.10 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BCI charges 0.26%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for XLU.
Performance
BCI vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BCI achieves a 16.69% return, which is significantly higher than XLU's 6.16% return.
BCI
- 1D
- -0.65%
- 1M
- -8.66%
- YTD
- 16.69%
- 6M
- 16.52%
- 1Y
- 22.05%
- 3Y*
- 11.86%
- 5Y*
- 9.82%
- 10Y*
- —
XLU
- 1D
- 0.55%
- 1M
- -0.76%
- YTD
- 6.16%
- 6M
- 6.71%
- 1Y
- 14.60%
- 3Y*
- 14.60%
- 5Y*
- 10.41%
- 10Y*
- 9.26%
BCI vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BCI abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF | 16.69% | 15.07% | 5.47% | -8.79% | 15.09% | 26.18% | -2.77% | 7.06% | -11.21% | 3.81% |
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 6.16% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 5.68% |
Correlation
The correlation between BCI and XLU is -0.02, 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 | -0.02 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 31, 2017 | 0.10 |
The correlation between BCI and XLU shifts across timeframes, from -0.02 (1 year) to 0.13 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BCI vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
BCI
XLU
BCI vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF (BCI) 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.
| BCI | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.29 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.18 | +0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.84 | 1.60 | +0.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.82 | 3.39 | +3.43 |
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Drawdowns
BCI vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BCI drawdown since its inception was -32.69%, smaller than the maximum XLU drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BCI and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BCI | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.69% | -51.98% | +19.29% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.04% | -9.18% | -2.86% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.04% | -17.26% | +5.22% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.50% | -25.26% | -1.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -36.07% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.04% | -5.05% | -6.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.98% | -10.22% | -1.76% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.56% | 4.31% | -0.75% |
Volatility
BCI vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF (BCI) is 3.49%, while State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) has a volatility of 5.26%. This indicates that BCI 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
| BCI | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.49% | 5.26% | -1.77% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.94% | 11.72% | +3.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.18% | 14.70% | +2.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.79% | 17.31% | -0.52% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.65% | 19.28% | -3.63% |
BCI vs. XLU - Expense Ratio Comparison
BCI has a 0.26% expense ratio, which is higher than XLU's 0.08% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
BCI vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
BCI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 14.13%, more than XLU's 3.30% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BCI abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF | 14.13% | 16.49% | 3.29% | 3.93% | 19.98% | 19.43% | 0.68% | 1.47% | 1.13% | 5.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3.30% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BCI and XLU have a correlation of -0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XLU has higher volatility (5.26%) compared to BCI (3.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BCI dropped -32.69% vs XLU's -51.98%.
On 5-year performance, XLU leads with 10.41% vs 9.82% for BCI. On fees, XLU is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, BCI has been the lower-risk option at 3.49%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, XLU has performed better with a 10.41% return vs 9.82%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
XLU is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.26% for BCI.
BCI has the higher dividend yield at 14.13%, compared with 3.30% for XLU.
BCI is categorized as Commodities, while XLU is Utilities Equities. BCI tracks Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return, while XLU tracks Utilities Select Sector Index. They also come from different issuers: Aberdeen and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.26% for BCI and 0.08% for XLU.
BCI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.29 vs 1.00), 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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