BRK-B vs. XLC
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while XLC (Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund) is Communications Equities fund tracking the S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index. Over the past 5 years, BRK-B returned 11.27%/yr vs 8.03%/yr for XLC. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
BRK-B vs. XLC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -2.67% return, which is significantly higher than XLC's -4.85% return.
BRK-B
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 1.07%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- 0.35%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.27%
- 10Y*
- 13.22%
XLC
- 1D
- -0.42%
- 1M
- -4.66%
- YTD
- -4.85%
- 6M
- -3.59%
- 1Y
- 10.19%
- 3Y*
- 21.60%
- 5Y*
- 8.03%
- 10Y*
- —
BRK-B vs. XLC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -2.67% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 6.84% |
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | -4.85% | 23.08% | 34.71% | 52.82% | -37.63% | 15.96% | 26.90% | 31.05% | -16.45% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and XLC is 0.21, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 19, 2018 | 0.46 |
Over the past year, the correlation between BRK-B and XLC has dropped to 0.21 - well below their long-term average of 0.46, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. XLC — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
XLC
BRK-B vs. XLC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC). 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.
| BRK-B | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.70 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.00 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.12 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | 0.86 | -0.89 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.05 | 2.73 | -2.78 |
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Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. XLC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than XLC's maximum drawdown of -46.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and XLC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -46.65% | -7.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -10.57% | +1.15% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -17.97% | +3.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -46.65% | +20.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.36% | -6.72% | -2.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -10.58% | -0.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.53% | 3.33% | +1.20% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. XLC - Volatility Comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a higher volatility of 3.95% compared to Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) at 3.57%. This indicates that BRK-B's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BRK-B | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.95% | 3.57% | +0.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.78% | 9.65% | +1.13% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 13.28% | +1.10% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.12% | 20.68% | -3.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 22.17% | -2.73% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. XLC - Dividend Comparison
BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.25%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.25% | 1.13% | 0.99% | 0.82% | 1.10% | 0.74% | 0.68% | 0.82% | 0.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and XLC have a correlation of 0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BRK-B has higher volatility (3.95%) compared to XLC (3.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs XLC's -46.65%.
XLC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.69 vs -0.02), 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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