IBND vs. XLE
IBND (SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF) and XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IBND is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate x USD >$1B: Corporate Bond, while XLE is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IBND returned 0.70%/yr vs 9.19%/yr for XLE. At a 0.09 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IBND charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for XLE.
Performance
IBND vs. XLE - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBND achieves a -2.27% return, which is significantly lower than XLE's 21.47% return. Over the past 10 years, IBND has underperformed XLE with an annualized return of 0.70%, while XLE has yielded a comparatively higher 9.19% annualized return.
IBND
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- -1.10%
- YTD
- -2.27%
- 6M
- -2.40%
- 1Y
- -0.76%
- 3Y*
- 5.73%
- 5Y*
- -1.33%
- 10Y*
- 0.70%
XLE
- 1D
- -1.63%
- 1M
- -9.30%
- YTD
- 21.47%
- 6M
- 22.40%
- 1Y
- 30.11%
- 3Y*
- 15.10%
- 5Y*
- 18.36%
- 10Y*
- 9.19%
IBND vs. XLE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBND SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF | -2.27% | 16.17% | -2.81% | 10.38% | -19.44% | -8.40% | 11.50% | 4.41% | -6.15% | 14.84% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 21.47% | 7.88% | 5.56% | -0.63% | 64.32% | 53.28% | -32.67% | 11.74% | -18.22% | -0.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBND and XLE is -0.20, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.20 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 20, 2010 | 0.09 |
The correlation between IBND and XLE shifts across timeframes, from -0.20 (1 year) to 0.09 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IBND vs. XLE — Risk / Return Rank
IBND
XLE
IBND vs. XLE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF (IBND) 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.
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.
| IBND | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.55 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.06 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.99 | 1.24 | -0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.11 | 2.15 | -2.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.29 | 6.33 | -6.62 |
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Drawdowns
IBND vs. XLE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBND drawdown since its inception was -35.62%, smaller than the maximum XLE drawdown of -71.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBND and XLE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBND | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.62% | -71.26% | +35.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.75% | -14.05% | +7.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -9.18% | -20.14% | +10.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.49% | -26.04% | -7.45% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.62% | -66.81% | +31.19% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.55% | -13.75% | +3.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.63% | -17.96% | +7.33% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.66% | 4.77% | -2.11% |
Volatility
IBND vs. XLE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF (IBND) is 2.05%, while State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) has a volatility of 7.16%. This indicates that IBND experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky 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
| IBND | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.05% | 7.16% | -5.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.29% | 16.92% | -10.63% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.03% | 20.83% | -12.80% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 9.75% | 25.99% | -16.24% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.92% | 29.60% | -20.68% |
IBND vs. XLE - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBND has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than XLE's 0.08% expense ratio.
Dividends
IBND vs. XLE - Dividend Comparison
IBND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.77%, less than XLE's 2.83% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBND SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF | 2.77% | 2.49% | 2.61% | 2.08% | 0.54% | 0.38% | 0.45% | 0.67% | 0.71% | 0.34% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.83% | 3.28% | 3.36% | 3.55% | 3.68% | 4.21% | 5.62% | 6.72% | 3.54% | 3.03% | 2.26% | 3.39% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBND and XLE have a correlation of -0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XLE has higher volatility (7.16%) compared to IBND (2.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBND dropped -35.62% vs XLE's -71.26%.
On 10-year performance, XLE leads with 9.19% vs 0.70% for IBND. On fees, XLE is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, IBND has been the lower-risk option at 2.05%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, XLE has performed better with a 9.19% return vs 0.70%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
XLE is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for IBND.
XLE has the higher dividend yield at 2.83%, compared with 2.77% for IBND.
IBND is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while XLE is Energy Equities. IBND tracks Bloomberg Global Aggregate x USD >$1B: Corporate Bond, while XLE tracks Energy Select Sector Index. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for IBND and 0.08% for XLE.
XLE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.46 vs -0.10), 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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