KBE vs. XLU
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU).
KBE and XLU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. KBE is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Banks Select Industry Index. It was launched on Nov 8, 2005. XLU is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Utilities Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both KBE and XLU 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
KBE vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
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KBE vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KBE SPDR S&P Bank ETF | -0.39% | 12.36% | 23.78% | 5.30% | -14.83% | 33.46% | -8.75% | 29.78% | -19.65% | 10.49% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 8.77% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 12.05% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, KBE achieves a -0.39% return, which is significantly lower than XLU's 8.77% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with KBE having a 9.68% annualized return and XLU not far ahead at 9.79%.
KBE
- 1D
- 0.92%
- 1M
- -2.33%
- YTD
- -0.39%
- 6M
- 3.01%
- 1Y
- 16.90%
- 3Y*
- 20.81%
- 5Y*
- 5.69%
- 10Y*
- 9.68%
XLU
- 1D
- 0.48%
- 1M
- -1.98%
- YTD
- 8.77%
- 6M
- 6.26%
- 1Y
- 19.98%
- 3Y*
- 14.30%
- 5Y*
- 10.90%
- 10Y*
- 9.79%
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KBE vs. XLU - Expense Ratio Comparison
KBE has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than XLU's 0.13% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
KBE vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
KBE
XLU
KBE vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU). 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.
| KBE | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.65 | 1.27 | -0.62 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.01 | 1.73 | -0.71 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.23 | -0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.12 | 2.21 | -1.09 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.83 | 5.31 | -2.48 |
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
| KBE | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.65 | 1.27 | -0.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 | 0.64 | -0.43 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 | 0.51 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.09 | 0.41 | -0.32 |
Correlation
The correlation between KBE and XLU is 0.31, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
KBE vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
KBE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.47%, less than XLU's 2.58% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KBE SPDR S&P Bank ETF | 2.47% | 2.51% | 2.35% | 2.78% | 2.99% | 2.16% | 2.44% | 2.33% | 2.18% | 1.36% | 1.39% | 1.70% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 2.58% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Drawdowns
KBE vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum KBE drawdown since its inception was -83.15%, which is greater than XLU's maximum drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KBE and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| KBE | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -83.15% | -51.98% | -31.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.63% | -9.18% | -5.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -45.25% | -25.26% | -19.99% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -53.14% | -36.07% | -17.07% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.32% | -2.72% | -7.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.72% | -10.26% | -17.46% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.80% | 3.82% | +1.98% |
Volatility
KBE vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) has a higher volatility of 5.35% compared to Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) at 5.09%. This indicates that KBE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| KBE | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.35% | 5.09% | +0.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.70% | 10.36% | +6.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.14% | 15.79% | +10.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.44% | 17.18% | +10.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.89% | 19.21% | +10.68% |