GLD vs. XLF
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF).
GLD and XLF are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GLD is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price PM. It was launched on Nov 18, 2004. XLF is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Financial Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both GLD and XLF 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
GLD vs. XLF - Performance Comparison
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GLD vs. XLF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 8.57% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | -9.40% | 14.90% | 30.56% | 12.03% | -10.59% | 34.80% | -1.74% | 31.88% | -13.06% | 22.00% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GLD achieves a 8.57% return, which is significantly higher than XLF's -9.40% return. Over the past 10 years, GLD has outperformed XLF with an annualized return of 13.92%, while XLF has yielded a comparatively lower 12.44% annualized return.
GLD
- 1D
- 3.79%
- 1M
- -11.05%
- YTD
- 8.57%
- 6M
- 21.05%
- 1Y
- 49.33%
- 3Y*
- 32.92%
- 5Y*
- 21.58%
- 10Y*
- 13.92%
XLF
- 1D
- 2.09%
- 1M
- -3.51%
- YTD
- -9.40%
- 6M
- -7.56%
- 1Y
- 0.65%
- 3Y*
- 17.25%
- 5Y*
- 9.34%
- 10Y*
- 12.44%
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GLD vs. XLF - Expense Ratio Comparison
GLD has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than XLF's 0.13% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
GLD vs. XLF — Risk / Return Rank
GLD
XLF
GLD vs. XLF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF). 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.
| GLD | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.79 | 0.03 | +1.75 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.21 | 0.18 | +2.04 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.02 | +0.31 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.68 | 0.13 | +2.55 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.90 | 0.38 | +9.52 |
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
| GLD | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.79 | 0.03 | +1.75 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.22 | 0.50 | +0.72 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.88 | 0.56 | +0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.62 | 0.20 | +0.42 |
Correlation
The correlation between GLD and XLF is -0.02. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
GLD vs. XLF - Dividend Comparison
GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XLF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.60%.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.60% | 1.31% | 1.42% | 1.71% | 2.04% | 1.63% | 2.03% | 1.87% | 2.08% | 1.48% | 21.10% | 1.95% |
Drawdowns
GLD vs. XLF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GLD drawdown since its inception was -45.56%, smaller than the maximum XLF drawdown of -82.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GLD and XLF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GLD | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.56% | -82.69% | +37.13% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.21% | -14.79% | -4.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.03% | -25.81% | +4.78% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.00% | -42.86% | +20.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.23% | -12.01% | -1.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.17% | -20.10% | +3.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.20% | 4.90% | +0.30% |
Volatility
GLD vs. XLF - Volatility Comparison
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a higher volatility of 11.06% compared to Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) at 4.75%. This indicates that GLD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| GLD | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.06% | 4.75% | +6.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.30% | 11.45% | +12.85% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.80% | 19.29% | +8.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.74% | 18.69% | -0.95% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.87% | 22.19% | -6.32% |