GHYG vs. XLK

Last updated Apr 3, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF (GHYG) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK).

GHYG and XLK are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GHYG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Markit iBoxx Global Developed Markets High Yield Index. It was launched on Apr 3, 2012. XLK is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both GHYG and XLK 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

GHYG vs. XLK - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF (GHYG) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

GHYG vs. XLK - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
GHYG iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF	-1.02%	11.28%	5.85%	13.29%	-12.15%	1.62%	6.68%	13.47%	-3.79%	8.97%
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	-5.43%	24.61%	21.63%	56.02%	-27.73%	34.74%	43.62%	49.86%	-1.68%	34.26%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GHYG achieves a -1.02% return, which is significantly higher than XLK's -5.43% return. Over the past 10 years, GHYG has underperformed XLK with an annualized return of 5.03%, while XLK has yielded a comparatively higher 21.15% annualized return.

GHYG

• 1D: -0.21%
• 1M: -0.75%
• YTD: -1.02%
• 6M: -0.09%
• 1Y: 7.55%
• 3Y*: 8.27%
• 5Y*: 3.31%
• 10Y*: 5.03%

XLK

• 1D: 0.80%
• 1M: -0.98%
• YTD: -5.43%
• 6M: -4.69%
• 1Y: 30.55%
• 3Y*: 22.58%
• 5Y*: 15.84%
• 10Y*: 21.15%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GHYG vs. XLK - Expense Ratio Comparison

GHYG has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than XLK's 0.08% expense ratio.

GHYG

iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF

XLK

State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF

Return for Risk

GHYG vs. XLK — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

GHYG

GHYG Risk / Return Rank: 70
GHYG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 72
GHYG Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
GHYG Omega Ratio Rank: 72
GHYG Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
GHYG Martin Ratio Rank: 64

XLK

XLK Risk / Return Rank: 61
XLK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 60
XLK Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
XLK Omega Ratio Rank: 60
XLK Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
XLK Martin Ratio Rank: 55

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

GHYG vs. XLK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF (GHYG) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). 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.

	GHYG	XLK	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.36	1.13	+0.23
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.05	1.71	+0.34
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.28	1.24	+0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.98	1.98	0.00
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.45	6.27	+1.18
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GHYG vs. XLK - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GHYG Sharpe Ratio is 1.36, which is comparable to the XLK Sharpe Ratio of 1.13. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GHYG and XLK, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GHYG	XLK	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.36	1.13	+0.23
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43	0.64	-0.21
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.57	0.87	-0.30
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.54	0.36	+0.18

Correlation

The correlation between GHYG and XLK is 0.45, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

GHYG vs. XLK - Dividend Comparison

GHYG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.25%, more than XLK's 0.56% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
GHYG iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF	6.25%	6.03%	6.11%	5.60%	4.64%	4.57%	4.36%	4.61%	5.62%	4.60%	4.61%	4.79%
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	0.56%	0.54%	0.66%	0.76%	1.04%	0.65%	0.92%	1.16%	1.60%	1.37%	1.74%	1.79%

Drawdowns

GHYG vs. XLK - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GHYG drawdown since its inception was -27.36%, smaller than the maximum XLK drawdown of -82.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GHYG and XLK.

Drawdown Indicators

	GHYG	XLK	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-27.36%	-82.05%	+54.69%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.84%	-15.92%	+12.08%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.44%	-33.56%	+13.12%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-27.36%	-33.56%	+6.20%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.36%	-10.32%	+7.96%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.38%	-35.16%	+31.78%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.02%	5.03%	-4.01%

Volatility

GHYG vs. XLK - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF (GHYG) is 2.51%, while State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has a volatility of 7.96%. This indicates that GHYG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XLK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	GHYG	XLK	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.51%	7.96%	-5.45%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.46%	16.48%	-13.02%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.57%	27.05%	-21.48%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.73%	24.71%	-16.98%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	8.77%	24.33%	-15.56%