IXG vs. XLF
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) and Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF).
IXG and XLF are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IXG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Global Financials Sector Index. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. 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 IXG 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
IXG vs. XLF - Performance Comparison
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IXG vs. XLF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXG iShares Global Financials ETF | -5.62% | 28.54% | 25.69% | 14.97% | -8.97% | 25.07% | -2.99% | 24.60% | -16.33% | 23.78% |
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, IXG achieves a -5.62% return, which is significantly higher than XLF's -9.40% return. Over the past 10 years, IXG has underperformed XLF with an annualized return of 11.63%, while XLF has yielded a comparatively higher 12.44% annualized return.
IXG
- 1D
- 2.87%
- 1M
- -4.83%
- YTD
- -5.62%
- 6M
- -1.42%
- 1Y
- 13.11%
- 3Y*
- 21.31%
- 5Y*
- 11.87%
- 10Y*
- 11.63%
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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IXG vs. XLF - Expense Ratio Comparison
IXG has a 0.46% expense ratio, which is higher than XLF's 0.13% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
IXG vs. XLF — Risk / Return Rank
IXG
XLF
IXG vs. XLF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) 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.
| IXG | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.73 | 0.03 | +0.69 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.09 | 0.18 | +0.91 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.02 | +0.14 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.07 | 0.13 | +0.94 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.96 | 0.38 | +3.58 |
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
| IXG | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 | 0.03 | +0.69 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 | 0.50 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | 0.56 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.23 | 0.20 | +0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between IXG and XLF is 0.85, 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
IXG vs. XLF - Dividend Comparison
IXG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.16%, more than XLF's 1.60% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXG iShares Global Financials ETF | 2.16% | 2.04% | 2.64% | 2.62% | 3.71% | 1.69% | 2.13% | 2.87% | 3.14% | 2.12% | 2.21% | 2.79% |
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
IXG vs. XLF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IXG drawdown since its inception was -78.42%, smaller than the maximum XLF drawdown of -82.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IXG and XLF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IXG | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -78.42% | -82.69% | +4.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.79% | -14.79% | +2.00% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.20% | -25.81% | -1.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.47% | -42.86% | -0.61% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.13% | -12.01% | +3.88% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.88% | -20.10% | +0.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.44% | 4.90% | -1.46% |
Volatility
IXG vs. XLF - Volatility Comparison
iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) has a higher volatility of 5.96% compared to Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) at 4.75%. This indicates that IXG'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
| IXG | XLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.96% | 4.75% | +1.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.50% | 11.45% | -0.95% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.12% | 19.29% | -1.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.30% | 18.69% | -1.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.15% | 22.19% | -2.04% |