HQL vs. XBI

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI).

XBI is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. It was launched on Feb 6, 2006.

Performance

HQL vs. XBI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

HQL vs. XBI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
HQL Tekla Life Sciences Investors	0.18%	45.48%	11.03%	4.23%	-19.21%	5.52%	23.72%	25.53%	-16.18%	25.41%
XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF	4.76%	35.89%	1.01%	7.60%	-25.87%	-20.45%	48.33%	32.56%	-15.28%	43.77%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, HQL achieves a 0.18% return, which is significantly lower than XBI's 4.76% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with HQL having a 8.95% annualized return and XBI not far ahead at 9.32%.

HQL

• 1D: 2.26%
• 1M: -2.28%
• YTD: 0.18%
• 6M: 11.70%
• 1Y: 45.72%
• 3Y*: 18.90%
• 5Y*: 6.76%
• 10Y*: 8.95%

XBI

• 1D: 7.53%
• 1M: 0.28%
• YTD: 4.76%
• 6M: 27.90%
• 1Y: 58.08%
• 3Y*: 19.00%
• 5Y*: -1.29%
• 10Y*: 9.32%

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

Return for Risk

HQL vs. XBI — Risk / Return Rank

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

HQL

HQL Risk / Return Rank: 88
HQL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
HQL Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
HQL Omega Ratio Rank: 85
HQL Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
HQL Martin Ratio Rank: 91

XBI

XBI Risk / Return Rank: 92
XBI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
XBI Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
XBI Omega Ratio Rank: 87
XBI Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
XBI Martin Ratio Rank: 94

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.

HQL vs. XBI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI). 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.

	HQL	XBI	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.88	2.02	-0.14
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.52	2.70	-0.18
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	1.34	-0.02
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.04	3.72	-0.69
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	11.18	13.98	-2.80
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

HQL vs. XBI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current HQL Sharpe Ratio is 1.88, which is comparable to the XBI Sharpe Ratio of 2.02. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of HQL and XBI, 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

	HQL	XBI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.88	2.02	-0.14
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.33	-0.04	+0.37
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.40	0.29	+0.11
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.30	0.36	-0.05

Correlation

The correlation between HQL and XBI is 0.74, 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

HQL vs. XBI - Dividend Comparison

HQL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.74%, more than XBI's 0.34% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
HQL Tekla Life Sciences Investors	11.74%	10.85%	14.18%	9.44%	9.57%	8.79%	7.90%	8.03%	10.72%	8.25%	12.18%	11.84%
XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF	0.34%	0.37%	0.15%	0.02%	0.00%	0.04%	0.20%	0.00%	0.28%	0.24%	0.26%	0.61%

Drawdowns

HQL vs. XBI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum HQL drawdown since its inception was -62.65%, roughly equal to the maximum XBI drawdown of -63.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HQL and XBI.

Drawdown Indicators

	HQL	XBI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-62.65%	-63.89%	+1.24%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.91%	-13.39%	+1.48%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-38.86%	-55.04%	+16.18%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-38.86%	-63.89%	+25.03%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.87%	-26.17%	+21.30%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-22.37%	-20.91%	-1.46%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.90%	3.71%	+0.19%

Volatility

HQL vs. XBI - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) is 7.98%, while SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) has a volatility of 11.60%. This indicates that HQL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XBI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	HQL	XBI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.98%	11.60%	-3.62%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.20%	19.25%	-3.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	24.48%	29.24%	-4.76%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.56%	32.23%	-11.67%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.41%	32.15%	-9.74%