WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

WTEL.L (SPDR MSCI World Telecommunications UCITS ETF) and GXLC.L (SPDR® S&P® U.S. Communication Services Select Sector UCITS ETF) are both Communications Equities funds from State Street tracking the MSCI World/Comm Services NR USD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, WTEL.L returned 10.79%/yr vs 10.33%/yr for GXLC.L. Their correlation of 0.90 suggests significant overlap in exposure. WTEL.L charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for GXLC.L.

Performance

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in SPDR MSCI World Telecommunications UCITS ETF (WTEL.L) and SPDR® S&P® U.S. Communication Services Select Sector UCITS ETF (GXLC.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

WTEL.L is traded in USD, while GXLC.L is traded in GBP. To make them comparable, the GXLC.L values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, WTEL.L achieves a 3.74% return, which is significantly higher than GXLC.L's 1.82% return.

WTEL.L

• 1D: 1.54%
• 1M: -0.94%
• YTD: 3.74%
• 6M: 3.36%
• 1Y: 25.46%
• 3Y*: 26.97%
• 5Y*: 10.79%
• 10Y*: 10.79%

GXLC.L

• 1D: 1.60%
• 1M: -2.86%
• YTD: 1.82%
• 6M: 1.93%
• 1Y: 20.97%
• 3Y*: 25.34%
• 5Y*: 10.33%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
WTEL.L SPDR MSCI World Telecommunications UCITS ETF	3.74%	28.84%	35.03%	47.06%	-37.79%	15.91%	22.40%	26.15%	-5.95%
GXLC.L SPDR® S&P® U.S. Communication Services Select Sector UCITS ETF	1.82%	27.99%	31.37%	52.71%	-37.29%	17.82%	26.59%	30.42%	-13.76%

Correlation

The correlation between WTEL.L and GXLC.L is 0.91, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.91
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.90
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.92
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 20, 2018	0.90

The correlation between WTEL.L and GXLC.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	WTEL.L	GXLC.L
Communication Services	99.1%	100.0%
Technology	0.4%	-
Real Estate	0.3%	-
Consumer Cyclical	0.2%	-
Financial Services	0.0%	-
Healthcare	0.0%	-
Industrials	0.0%	-
Consumer Defensive	0.0%	-
Energy	0.0%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

WTEL.L

WTEL.L Risk / Return Rank: 49
WTEL.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 50
WTEL.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 56
WTEL.L Omega Ratio Rank: 47
WTEL.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 43
WTEL.L Martin Ratio Rank: 51

GXLC.L

GXLC.L Risk / Return Rank: 50
GXLC.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
GXLC.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
GXLC.L Omega Ratio Rank: 44
GXLC.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 52
GXLC.L Martin Ratio Rank: 54

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.

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR MSCI World Telecommunications UCITS ETF (WTEL.L) and SPDR® S&P® U.S. Communication Services Select Sector UCITS ETF (GXLC.L). 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.

	WTEL.L	GXLC.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.71	1.50	+0.21
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.61	2.27	+0.35
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.26	+0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.13	2.04	+0.09
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.43	7.66	+0.77
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current WTEL.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.71, which is comparable to the GXLC.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.50. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of WTEL.L and GXLC.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	WTEL.L	GXLC.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.71	1.50	+0.21
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.56	0.54	+0.02
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.61	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.61	0.70	-0.09

Drawdowns

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum WTEL.L drawdown since its inception was -44.74%, roughly equal to the maximum GXLC.L drawdown of -45.02%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WTEL.L and GXLC.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	WTEL.L	GXLC.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-44.74%	-45.02%	+0.28%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.88%	-10.23%	-1.65%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.15%	-17.72%	-1.43%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-44.74%	-45.02%	+0.28%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-44.74%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.04%	-4.61%	+1.57%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.95%	-9.89%	+0.94%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.01%	2.73%	+0.28%

Volatility

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Volatility Comparison

SPDR MSCI World Telecommunications UCITS ETF (WTEL.L) and SPDR® S&P® U.S. Communication Services Select Sector UCITS ETF (GXLC.L) have volatilities of 4.36% and 4.41%, 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.

Volatility by Period

	WTEL.L	GXLC.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.36%	4.41%	-0.05%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.76%	10.26%	+0.50%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.85%	13.94%	+0.91%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.14%	19.08%	+0.06%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.88%	19.81%	-1.93%

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

WTEL.L has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than GXLC.L's 0.15% expense ratio.

Dividends

WTEL.L vs. GXLC.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither WTEL.L nor GXLC.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both WTEL.L and GXLC.L in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.91, WTEL.L and GXLC.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which ETF is better, WTEL.L or GXLC.L?

On fees, GXLC.L is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, WTEL.L or GXLC.L?

GXLC.L is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.30% for WTEL.L.

What is the main difference between WTEL.L and GXLC.L?

Both ETFs track MSCI World/Comm Services NR USD. Their fees differ too: 0.30% for WTEL.L and 0.15% for GXLC.L.