WMB vs. XLE
WMB (The Williams Companies, 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, WMB returned 19.45%/yr vs 9.37%/yr for XLE. A 0.64 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
WMB vs. XLE - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WMB achieves a 27.93% return, which is significantly higher than XLE's 23.49% return. Over the past 10 years, WMB has outperformed XLE with an annualized return of 19.45%, while XLE has yielded a comparatively lower 9.37% annualized return.
WMB
- 1D
- 1.12%
- 1M
- -2.70%
- YTD
- 27.93%
- 6M
- 28.70%
- 1Y
- 29.29%
- 3Y*
- 40.75%
- 5Y*
- 28.91%
- 10Y*
- 19.45%
XLE
- 1D
- 0.74%
- 1M
- -7.80%
- YTD
- 23.49%
- 6M
- 24.07%
- 1Y
- 30.55%
- 3Y*
- 15.73%
- 5Y*
- 18.87%
- 10Y*
- 9.37%
WMB vs. XLE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WMB The Williams Companies, Inc. | 27.93% | 14.91% | 62.35% | 11.86% | 32.83% | 38.36% | -8.20% | 14.18% | -23.88% | 2.02% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 23.49% | 7.88% | 5.56% | -0.63% | 64.32% | 53.28% | -32.67% | 11.74% | -18.22% | -0.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between WMB and XLE is 0.42, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.53 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 1998 | 0.64 |
Over the past year, the correlation between WMB and XLE has dropped to 0.42 - well below their long-term average of 0.64, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
WMB vs. XLE — Risk / Return Rank
WMB
XLE
WMB vs. XLE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) 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.
| WMB | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.20 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.25 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.38 | 2.18 | +0.20 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.94 | 6.53 | -1.59 |
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Drawdowns
WMB vs. XLE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WMB drawdown since its inception was -98.03%, which is greater than XLE's maximum drawdown of -71.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WMB and XLE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WMB | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -98.03% | -71.26% | -26.77% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.36% | -14.05% | +1.69% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.36% | -20.14% | +7.78% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.01% | -26.04% | +3.03% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -68.08% | -66.81% | -1.27% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.84% | -12.32% | +8.48% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.06% | -17.96% | -9.10% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.94% | 4.69% | +1.25% |
Volatility
WMB vs. XLE - Volatility Comparison
The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) and State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) have volatilities of 7.37% and 7.12%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WMB | XLE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.37% | 7.12% | +0.25% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.79% | 16.82% | -1.03% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.10% | 20.93% | +2.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.59% | 25.98% | -2.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.83% | 29.60% | +1.23% |
Dividends
WMB vs. XLE - Dividend Comparison
WMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.70%, less than XLE's 2.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WMB The Williams Companies, Inc. | 2.70% | 3.33% | 3.51% | 5.14% | 5.17% | 6.30% | 7.98% | 6.41% | 6.17% | 3.94% | 5.39% | 9.53% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.79% | 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
WMB and XLE have a correlation of 0.42, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WMB has higher volatility (7.37%) compared to XLE (7.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WMB dropped -98.03% vs XLE's -71.26%.
XLE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.48 vs 1.27), 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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