LIN vs. XLC
LIN (Linde plc) is a stock, while XLC (Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund) is Communications Equities fund tracking the S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index. Over the past 5 years, LIN returned 13.98%/yr vs 8.03%/yr for XLC. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
LIN vs. XLC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LIN achieves a 23.59% return, which is significantly higher than XLC's -4.85% return.
LIN
- 1D
- 1.58%
- 1M
- 2.65%
- YTD
- 23.59%
- 6M
- 26.61%
- 1Y
- 13.87%
- 3Y*
- 13.38%
- 5Y*
- 13.98%
- 10Y*
- —
XLC
- 1D
- -0.42%
- 1M
- -4.66%
- YTD
- -4.85%
- 6M
- -3.59%
- 1Y
- 10.19%
- 3Y*
- 21.60%
- 5Y*
- 8.03%
- 10Y*
- —
LIN vs. XLC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LIN Linde plc | 23.59% | 3.22% | 3.18% | 27.66% | -4.39% | 33.39% | 25.88% | 39.04% | -5.26% |
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | -4.85% | 23.08% | 34.71% | 52.82% | -37.63% | 15.96% | 26.90% | 31.05% | -15.48% |
Correlation
The correlation between LIN and XLC is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 1, 2018 | 0.46 |
Over the past year, the correlation between LIN and XLC has dropped to 0.23 - well below their long-term average of 0.46, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
LIN vs. XLC — Risk / Return Rank
LIN
XLC
LIN vs. XLC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Linde plc (LIN) 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.
| LIN | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.08 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.12 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.67 | 0.86 | -0.19 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.89 | 2.73 | -0.85 |
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Drawdowns
LIN vs. XLC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LIN drawdown since its inception was -32.59%, smaller than the maximum XLC drawdown of -46.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LIN and XLC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LIN | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.59% | -46.65% | +14.06% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.18% | -10.57% | -8.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.18% | -17.97% | -1.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.82% | -46.65% | +23.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -6.72% | +6.72% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.41% | -10.58% | +5.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.79% | 3.33% | +3.46% |
Volatility
LIN vs. XLC - Volatility Comparison
Linde plc (LIN) has a higher volatility of 5.57% compared to Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) at 3.57%. This indicates that LIN'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
| LIN | XLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.57% | 3.57% | +2.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.53% | 9.65% | +3.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.24% | 13.28% | +3.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.79% | 20.68% | +0.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.08% | 22.17% | +1.91% |
Dividends
LIN vs. XLC - Dividend Comparison
LIN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.18%, less than XLC's 1.25% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LIN Linde plc | 1.18% | 1.41% | 1.33% | 1.24% | 1.43% | 1.22% | 1.46% | 1.64% | 0.53% |
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.25% | 1.13% | 0.99% | 0.82% | 1.10% | 0.74% | 0.68% | 0.82% | 0.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
LIN and XLC have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
LIN has higher volatility (5.57%) compared to XLC (3.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LIN dropped -32.59% vs XLC's -46.65%.
LIN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.74 vs 0.69), 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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