NRG vs. XLE
NRG (NRG Energy, Inc.) is a stock, while XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index. Over the past 10 years, NRG returned 28.74%/yr vs 10.08%/yr for XLE. Their 0.39 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
NRG vs. XLE - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NRG achieves a -12.19% return, which is significantly lower than XLE's 33.31% return. Over the past 10 years, NRG has outperformed XLE with an annualized return of 28.74%, while XLE has yielded a comparatively lower 10.08% annualized return.
NRG
- 1D
- 3.48%
- 1M
- 1.65%
- 6M
- -6.52%
- YTD
- -12.19%
- 1Y
- -16.37%
- 3Y*
- 57.41%
- 5Y*
- 30.49%
- 10Y*
- 28.74%
- ALL TIME*
- 14.04%
XLE
- 1D
- -1.28%
- 1M
- 10.47%
- 6M
- 19.08%
- YTD
- 33.31%
- 1Y
- 41.66%
- 3Y*
- 14.20%
- 5Y*
- 23.80%
- 10Y*
- 10.08%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.81%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $343.39M | $305.89M | $366.18M | |
| $1.70B | $1.73B | $1.97B |
NRG vs. XLE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NRG NRG Energy, Inc. | -12.19% | 78.91% | 78.58% | 69.36% | -23.47% | 18.54% | -2.14% | 0.69% | 39.59% | 133.69% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 33.31% | 7.88% | 5.56% | -0.63% | 64.32% | 53.28% | -32.67% | 11.74% | -18.22% | -0.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between NRG and XLE is -0.07, meaning there was essentially no consistent relationship between their historical price movements. Each responded to its own set of market drivers.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | -0.07 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.24 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.29 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 2, 2003 | 0.39 |
The correlation between NRG and XLE shifts across timeframes, from -0.07 (1 year) to 0.39 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
NRG vs. XLE — Risk / Return Rank
NRG
XLE
NRG vs. XLE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) 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.
| NRG | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.35 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.78 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.98 | 1.32 | -0.35 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.48 | 2.79 | -3.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.00 | 7.45 | -8.45 |
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Drawdowns
NRG vs. XLE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NRG drawdown since its inception was -79.41%, which is greater than XLE's maximum drawdown of -71.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NRG and XLE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NRG | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -79.41% | -71.26% | -8.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -34.24% | -14.98% | -19.26% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -34.24% | -20.14% | -14.10% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.24% | -26.04% | -8.20% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.76% | -66.81% | +18.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.26% | -5.35% | -18.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.98% | -17.93% | -10.05% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 16.48% | 5.60% | +10.88% |
Volatility
NRG vs. XLE - Volatility Comparison
NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) has a higher volatility of 15.24% compared to State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) at 6.13%. This indicates that NRG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier 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
| NRG | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 15.24% | 6.13% | +9.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 35.53% | 16.74% | +18.79% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 46.83% | 21.04% | +25.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 40.45% | 25.77% | +14.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 39.22% | 29.58% | +9.64% |
Dividends
NRG vs. XLE - Dividend Comparison
NRG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.35%, less than XLE's 2.58% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NRG NRG Energy, Inc. | 1.35% | 1.11% | 1.81% | 2.92% | 4.40% | 3.02% | 3.20% | 0.30% | 0.30% | 0.42% | 1.92% | 4.93% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.58% | 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
NRG and XLE have a correlation of -0.07, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NRG has higher volatility (15.24%) compared to XLE (6.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NRG dropped -79.41% vs XLE's -71.26%.
XLE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs -0.35), 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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