FCG vs. XLE
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) and State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE).
FCG and XLE are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FCG is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index. It was launched on May 8, 2007. XLE is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Energy Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both FCG and XLE are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
FCG vs. XLE - Performance Comparison
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FCG vs. XLE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF | 35.99% | -2.28% | 4.16% | 2.55% | 47.24% | 98.49% | -23.20% | -15.76% | -34.81% | -11.38% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 37.91% | 7.88% | 5.56% | -0.63% | 64.32% | 53.28% | -32.67% | 11.74% | -18.22% | -0.89% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FCG achieves a 35.99% return, which is significantly lower than XLE's 37.91% return. Over the past 10 years, FCG has underperformed XLE with an annualized return of 7.31%, while XLE has yielded a comparatively higher 11.65% annualized return.
FCG
- 1D
- -1.95%
- 1M
- 13.98%
- YTD
- 35.99%
- 6M
- 36.46%
- 1Y
- 30.79%
- 3Y*
- 15.23%
- 5Y*
- 22.03%
- 10Y*
- 7.31%
XLE
- 1D
- -1.13%
- 1M
- 10.27%
- YTD
- 37.91%
- 6M
- 39.21%
- 1Y
- 35.32%
- 3Y*
- 17.71%
- 5Y*
- 23.99%
- 10Y*
- 11.65%
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FCG vs. XLE - Expense Ratio Comparison
FCG has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than XLE's 0.08% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FCG vs. XLE — Risk / Return Rank
FCG
XLE
FCG vs. XLE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) and State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE). 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.
| FCG | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.95 | 1.42 | -0.47 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.36 | 1.84 | -0.48 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.28 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.37 | 1.96 | -0.59 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.92 | 5.16 | -1.23 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FCG | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.95 | 1.42 | -0.47 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.66 | 0.93 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.19 | 0.40 | -0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.10 | 0.32 | -0.42 |
Correlation
The correlation between FCG and XLE is 0.88, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
FCG vs. XLE - Dividend Comparison
FCG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.02%, less than XLE's 2.44% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF | 2.02% | 2.86% | 2.76% | 3.25% | 3.04% | 1.73% | 3.82% | 2.87% | 1.46% | 1.56% | 1.70% | 4.79% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.44% | 3.28% | 3.36% | 3.55% | 3.68% | 4.21% | 5.62% | 6.72% | 3.54% | 3.03% | 2.26% | 3.39% |
Drawdowns
FCG vs. XLE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FCG drawdown since its inception was -97.20%, which is greater than XLE's maximum drawdown of -71.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FCG and XLE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FCG | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -97.20% | -71.26% | -25.94% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -23.23% | -18.79% | -4.44% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.33% | -26.04% | -7.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -85.04% | -66.81% | -18.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -72.58% | -2.08% | -70.50% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -65.30% | -18.05% | -47.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.13% | 7.14% | +0.99% |
Volatility
FCG vs. XLE - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) has a higher volatility of 6.09% compared to State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) at 5.05%. This indicates that FCG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FCG | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.09% | 5.05% | +1.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.28% | 13.94% | +4.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 32.42% | 24.93% | +7.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 33.88% | 26.06% | +7.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.28% | 29.48% | +8.80% |