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QUAL vs. XLE
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

QUAL vs. XLE

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) and XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - QUAL is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index, while XLE is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, QUAL returned 14.19%/yr vs 10.02%/yr for XLE. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. QUAL charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for XLE.

Performance

QUAL vs. XLE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) and State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QUAL achieves a 7.89% return, which is significantly lower than XLE's 31.32% return. Over the past 10 years, QUAL has outperformed XLE with an annualized return of 14.19%, while XLE has yielded a comparatively lower 10.02% annualized return.

QUAL

1D
0.32%
1M
1.62%
YTD
7.89%
6M
8.26%
1Y
19.70%
3Y*
19.43%
5Y*
11.82%
10Y*
14.19%

XLE

1D
1.14%
1M
4.72%
YTD
31.32%
6M
30.37%
1Y
44.35%
3Y*
16.51%
5Y*
20.33%
10Y*
10.02%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

QUAL vs. XLE - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		7.89%12.65%22.29%30.88%-20.50%26.94%17.04%33.89%-5.70%22.26%
XLE
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF		31.32%7.88%5.56%-0.63%64.32%53.28%-32.67%11.74%-18.22%-0.89%

Correlation

The correlation between QUAL and XLE is -0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

-0.06

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.16

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.28

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.41

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 19, 2013

0.46

The correlation between QUAL and XLE shifts across timeframes, from -0.06 (1 year) to 0.46 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

QUAL vs. XLE - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
QUAL
XLE

Technology

36.5%

-

Financial Services

11.5%

-

Communication Services

11.1%

-

Consumer Cyclical

9.3%

-

Healthcare

9.0%

-

Industrials

8.2%

-

Consumer Defensive

4.9%

-

Energy

4.0%
100.0%

Utilities

1.9%

-

Real Estate

1.8%

-

Basic Materials

1.7%

-

Technology

QUAL
36.5%
XLE

-

Financial Services

QUAL
11.5%
XLE

-

Communication Services

QUAL
11.1%
XLE

-

Consumer Cyclical

QUAL
9.3%
XLE

-

Healthcare

QUAL
9.0%
XLE

-

Industrials

QUAL
8.2%
XLE

-

Consumer Defensive

QUAL
4.9%
XLE

-

Energy

QUAL
4.0%
XLE
100.0%

Utilities

QUAL
1.9%
XLE

-

Real Estate

QUAL
1.8%
XLE

-

Basic Materials

QUAL
1.7%
XLE

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF

Often compared with QUAL:
QUAL vs. SPHQQUAL vs. SPYQUAL vs. MTUMQUAL vs. USMVQUAL vs. VOOQUAL vs. IVVQUAL vs. SCHD
Often compared with XLE:
XLE vs. VDEXLE vs. USOXLE vs. XOPXLE vs. XLUXLE vs. XLKXLE vs. IXCXLE vs. FENY

Return for Risk

QUAL vs. XLE — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
QUAL
QUAL Risk / Return Rank: 5454
Overall Rank
QUAL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5353
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QUAL Sortino Ratio Rank: 5353
Sortino Ratio Rank
QUAL Omega Ratio Rank: 5252
Omega Ratio Rank
QUAL Calmar Ratio Rank: 4949
Calmar Ratio Rank
QUAL Martin Ratio Rank: 6161
Martin Ratio Rank
XLE
XLE Risk / Return Rank: 7070
Overall Rank
XLE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7575
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XLE Sortino Ratio Rank: 6868
Sortino Ratio Rank
XLE Omega Ratio Rank: 6565
Omega Ratio Rank
XLE Calmar Ratio Rank: 7979
Calmar Ratio Rank
XLE Martin Ratio Rank: 6464
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

QUAL vs. XLE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) 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.

QUALXLEDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.65
2.18

-0.53

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.34
2.81

-0.46

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.29

1.35

-0.06

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.19

3.70

-1.51

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

9.96

10.59

-0.63

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QUAL vs. XLE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QUAL Sharpe Ratio is 1.65, which is comparable to the XLE Sharpe Ratio of 2.18. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QUAL and XLE, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

QUALXLEDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.65

2.18

-0.53

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.68

0.79

-0.10

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.79

0.34

+0.45

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.80

0.31

+0.49

Drawdowns

QUAL vs. XLE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QUAL drawdown since its inception was -34.06%, smaller than the maximum XLE drawdown of -71.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QUAL and XLE.

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Drawdown Indicators

QUALXLEDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-34.06%

-71.26%

+37.20%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.03%

-12.05%

+3.02%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-18.00%

-20.14%

+2.14%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-28.23%

-26.04%

-2.19%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.06%

-66.81%

+32.75%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-1.61%

-6.76%

+5.15%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-4.10%

-17.98%

+13.88%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.98%

4.20%

-2.22%

Volatility

QUAL vs. XLE - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is 3.12%, while State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) has a volatility of 7.07%. This indicates that QUAL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky 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

QUALXLEDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.12%

7.07%

-3.95%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

9.28%

16.58%

-7.30%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.01%

20.48%

-8.47%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.35%

26.03%

-8.68%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.11%

29.58%

-11.47%

QUAL vs. XLE - Expense Ratio Comparison

QUAL has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than XLE's 0.08% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

QUAL vs. XLE - Dividend Comparison

QUAL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.88%, less than XLE's 2.56% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		0.88%0.94%1.02%1.23%1.59%1.20%1.39%1.60%2.00%1.76%1.96%1.63%
XLE
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF		2.56%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

QUAL and XLE have a correlation of -0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

XLE has higher volatility (7.07%) compared to QUAL (3.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QUAL dropped -34.06% vs XLE's -71.26%.

On 10-year performance, QUAL leads with 14.19% vs 10.02% for XLE. On fees, XLE is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, QUAL has been the lower-risk option at 3.12%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, QUAL has performed better with a 14.19% return vs 10.02%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

XLE is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for QUAL.

XLE has the higher dividend yield at 2.56%, compared with 0.88% for QUAL.

QUAL is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while XLE is Energy Equities. QUAL tracks MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index, while XLE tracks Energy Select Sector Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for QUAL and 0.08% for XLE.

XLE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.18 vs 1.65), 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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