IYW vs. XLC
IYW (iShares U.S. Technology ETF) and XLC (Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - IYW is a Technology Equities fund tracking the Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index, while XLC is a Communications Equities fund tracking the S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IYW returned 22.08%/yr vs 8.31%/yr for XLC. A 0.78 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IYW charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for XLC.
Performance
IYW vs. XLC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IYW achieves a 27.27% return, which is significantly higher than XLC's -4.39% return.
IYW
- 1D
- 3.76%
- 1M
- 6.38%
- YTD
- 27.27%
- 6M
- 29.26%
- 1Y
- 55.82%
- 3Y*
- 33.08%
- 5Y*
- 22.08%
- 10Y*
- 26.22%
XLC
- 1D
- 0.48%
- 1M
- -3.35%
- YTD
- -4.39%
- 6M
- -3.14%
- 1Y
- 10.72%
- 3Y*
- 21.42%
- 5Y*
- 8.31%
- 10Y*
- —
IYW vs. XLC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYW iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 27.27% | 25.38% | 30.25% | 65.44% | -34.83% | 35.44% | 47.45% | 46.64% | -13.67% |
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | -4.39% | 23.08% | 34.71% | 52.82% | -37.63% | 15.96% | 26.90% | 31.05% | -16.45% |
Correlation
The correlation between IYW and XLC is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.64 |
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 IYW and XLC has dropped to 0.45 - well below their long-term average of 0.78, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
IYW vs. XLC — Risk / Return Rank
IYW
XLC
IYW vs. XLC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) 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.
| IYW | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.77 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.94 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.43 | 1.14 | +0.29 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.15 | 1.02 | +2.13 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.11 | 3.21 | +6.90 |
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Drawdowns
IYW vs. XLC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IYW drawdown since its inception was -81.90%, which is greater than XLC's maximum drawdown of -46.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYW and XLC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IYW | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -81.90% | -46.65% | -35.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.81% | -10.57% | -7.24% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.47% | -17.97% | -8.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.44% | -46.65% | +7.21% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.44% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.27% | -6.27% | +4.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -34.62% | -10.58% | -24.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.54% | 3.35% | +2.19% |
Volatility
IYW vs. XLC - Volatility Comparison
iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) has a higher volatility of 10.05% compared to Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) at 3.61%. This indicates that IYW'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
| IYW | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.05% | 3.61% | +6.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.01% | 9.66% | +8.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.74% | 13.25% | +8.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.13% | 20.68% | +5.45% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.24% | 22.17% | +3.07% |
IYW vs. XLC - Expense Ratio Comparison
IYW has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is higher than XLC's 0.13% expense ratio.
Dividends
IYW vs. XLC - Dividend Comparison
IYW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.13%, less than XLC's 1.24% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYW iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 0.13% | 0.14% | 0.21% | 0.34% | 0.50% | 0.31% | 0.56% | 0.72% | 0.92% | 0.82% | 1.14% | 1.12% |
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.24% | 1.13% | 0.99% | 0.82% | 1.10% | 0.74% | 0.68% | 0.82% | 0.64% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IYW and XLC have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IYW has higher volatility (10.05%) compared to XLC (3.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYW dropped -81.90% vs XLC's -46.65%.
On 5-year performance, IYW leads with 22.08% vs 8.31% for XLC. On fees, XLC is cheaper at 0.13% per year. On volatility, XLC has been the lower-risk option at 3.61%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IYW has performed better with a 22.08% return vs 8.31%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
XLC is cheaper with a 0.13% expense ratio, compared with 0.38% for IYW.
XLC has the higher dividend yield at 1.24%, compared with 0.13% for IYW.
IYW is categorized as Technology Equities, while XLC is Communications Equities. IYW tracks Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index, while XLC tracks S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for IYW and 0.13% for XLC.
IYW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.58 vs 0.81), 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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