WMB vs. XLK
WMB (The Williams Companies, Inc.) is a stock, while XLK (State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Technology Equities fund tracking the S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index. Over the past 10 years, WMB returned 18.11%/yr vs 24.50%/yr for XLK. At a 0.34 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
WMB vs. XLK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with WMB having a 25.69% return and XLK slightly higher at 26.22%. Over the past 10 years, WMB has underperformed XLK with an annualized return of 18.11%, while XLK has yielded a comparatively higher 24.50% annualized return.
WMB
- 1D
- -0.75%
- 1M
- 3.30%
- 6M
- 26.85%
- YTD
- 25.69%
- 1Y
- 31.95%
- 3Y*
- 35.91%
- 5Y*
- 29.61%
- 10Y*
- 18.11%
XLK
- 1D
- -2.42%
- 1M
- -1.79%
- 6M
- 23.80%
- YTD
- 26.22%
- 1Y
- 42.45%
- 3Y*
- 28.08%
- 5Y*
- 19.72%
- 10Y*
- 24.50%
WMB vs. XLK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WMB The Williams Companies, Inc. | 25.69% | 14.91% | 62.35% | 11.86% | 32.83% | 38.36% | -8.20% | 14.18% | -23.88% | 2.02% |
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 26.22% | 24.61% | 21.63% | 56.02% | -27.73% | 34.74% | 43.62% | 49.86% | -1.68% | 34.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between WMB and XLK is -0.07, 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 | -0.07 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 1998 | 0.34 |
The correlation between WMB and XLK shifts across timeframes, from -0.07 (1 year) to 0.34 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
WMB vs. XLK — Risk / Return Rank
WMB
XLK
WMB vs. XLK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). 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 | XLK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.32 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.24 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.30 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.60 | 2.68 | -0.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.25 | 8.10 | -1.85 |
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Drawdowns
WMB vs. XLK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WMB drawdown since its inception was -98.03%, which is greater than XLK's maximum drawdown of -82.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WMB and XLK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WMB | XLK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -98.03% | -82.05% | -15.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.36% | -15.92% | +3.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.36% | -25.66% | +13.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.01% | -33.56% | +10.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -68.08% | -33.56% | -34.52% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.53% | -8.43% | +2.90% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.03% | -34.85% | +7.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.12% | 5.25% | -0.13% |
Volatility
WMB vs. XLK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) is 7.39%, while State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has a volatility of 11.01%. This indicates that WMB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XLK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WMB | XLK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.39% | 11.01% | -3.62% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.41% | 20.77% | -4.36% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.56% | 24.43% | -1.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.67% | 25.56% | -1.89% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.60% | 24.79% | +5.81% |
Dividends
WMB vs. XLK - Dividend Comparison
WMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.75%, more than XLK's 0.44% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WMB The Williams Companies, Inc. | 2.75% | 3.33% | 3.51% | 5.14% | 5.17% | 6.30% | 7.98% | 6.41% | 6.17% | 3.94% | 5.39% | 9.53% |
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.44% | 0.54% | 0.66% | 0.76% | 1.04% | 0.65% | 0.92% | 1.16% | 1.60% | 1.37% | 1.74% | 1.79% |
Frequently Asked Questions
WMB and XLK 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.
XLK has higher volatility (11.01%) compared to WMB (7.39%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WMB dropped -98.03% vs XLK's -82.05%.
XLK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.75 vs 1.43), 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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