GOOGL vs. XLC
GOOGL (Alphabet Inc. Class A) 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, GOOGL returned 24.46%/yr vs 8.03%/yr for XLC. A 0.78 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
GOOGL vs. XLC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GOOGL achieves a 15.06% return, which is significantly higher than XLC's -4.85% return.
GOOGL
- 1D
- 0.53%
- 1M
- -10.27%
- YTD
- 15.06%
- 6M
- 16.44%
- 1Y
- 106.51%
- 3Y*
- 43.10%
- 5Y*
- 24.46%
- 10Y*
- 25.76%
XLC
- 1D
- -0.42%
- 1M
- -4.66%
- YTD
- -4.85%
- 6M
- -3.59%
- 1Y
- 10.19%
- 3Y*
- 21.60%
- 5Y*
- 8.03%
- 10Y*
- —
GOOGL vs. XLC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 15.06% | 65.99% | 36.01% | 58.32% | -39.09% | 65.30% | 30.85% | 28.18% | -11.71% |
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 GOOGL and XLC is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 19, 2018 | 0.78 |
Over the past year, the correlation between GOOGL and XLC has dropped to 0.55 - well below their long-term average of 0.78, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
GOOGL vs. XLC — Risk / Return Rank
GOOGL
XLC
GOOGL vs. XLC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Alphabet Inc. Class A (GOOGL) 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.
| GOOGL | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.93 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.84 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.59 | 1.12 | +0.47 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.20 | 0.86 | +4.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 18.48 | 2.73 | +15.75 |
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Drawdowns
GOOGL vs. XLC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GOOGL drawdown since its inception was -65.29%, which is greater than XLC's maximum drawdown of -46.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GOOGL and XLC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GOOGL | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -65.29% | -46.65% | -18.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -20.37% | -10.57% | -9.80% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.81% | -17.97% | -11.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -44.32% | -46.65% | +2.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.32% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.61% | -6.72% | -3.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.01% | -10.58% | -2.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.72% | 3.33% | +2.39% |
Volatility
GOOGL vs. XLC - Volatility Comparison
Alphabet Inc. Class A (GOOGL) has a higher volatility of 7.24% compared to Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) at 3.57%. This indicates that GOOGL'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
| GOOGL | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.24% | 3.57% | +3.67% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.82% | 9.65% | +11.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 29.31% | 13.28% | +16.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 31.33% | 20.68% | +10.65% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.13% | 22.17% | +6.96% |
Dividends
GOOGL vs. XLC - Dividend Comparison
GOOGL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.24%, less than XLC's 1.25% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 0.24% | 0.27% | 0.32% | 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
GOOGL and XLC have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GOOGL has higher volatility (7.24%) compared to XLC (3.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GOOGL dropped -65.29% vs XLC's -46.65%.
GOOGL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.62 vs 0.69), 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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