XLC vs. BNO
XLC (Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund) and BNO (United States Brent Oil Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - XLC is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index, while BNO is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Brent Crude Oil. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XLC returned 8.28%/yr vs 24.16%/yr for BNO. At a 0.14 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XLC charges 0.13%/yr vs 0.90%/yr for BNO.
Performance
XLC vs. BNO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLC achieves a -4.49% return, which is significantly lower than BNO's 90.47% return.
XLC
- 1D
- -1.31%
- 1M
- -3.46%
- YTD
- -4.49%
- 6M
- -2.02%
- 1Y
- 11.67%
- 3Y*
- 22.40%
- 5Y*
- 8.28%
- 10Y*
- —
BNO
- 1D
- 1.99%
- 1M
- -10.29%
- YTD
- 90.47%
- 6M
- 86.00%
- 1Y
- 91.89%
- 3Y*
- 27.93%
- 5Y*
- 24.16%
- 10Y*
- 13.60%
XLC vs. BNO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | -4.49% | 23.08% | 34.71% | 52.82% | -37.63% | 15.96% | 26.90% | 31.05% | -16.88% |
BNO United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 90.47% | -5.44% | 9.67% | -3.43% | 35.25% | 62.34% | -38.23% | 36.01% | -26.76% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLC and BNO is -0.20, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.20 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 20, 2018 | 0.14 |
The correlation between XLC and BNO shifts across timeframes, from -0.20 (1 year) to 0.14 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XLC vs. BNO — Risk / Return Rank
XLC
BNO
XLC vs. BNO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO). 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.
| XLC | BNO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.37 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.38 | -0.22 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.11 | 5.17 | -4.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.72 | 9.76 | -6.04 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| XLC | BNO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.88 | 2.23 | -1.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.40 | 0.69 | -0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.37 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.53 | 0.14 | +0.39 |
Drawdowns
XLC vs. BNO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLC drawdown since its inception was -46.65%, smaller than the maximum BNO drawdown of -87.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLC and BNO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLC | BNO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.65% | -87.06% | +40.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.57% | -17.87% | +7.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.97% | -23.75% | +5.78% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -46.65% | -33.70% | -12.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -75.18% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.36% | -10.29% | +3.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.60% | -40.17% | +29.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.14% | 9.45% | -6.31% |
Volatility
XLC vs. BNO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) is 3.67%, while United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO) has a volatility of 14.22%. This indicates that XLC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BNO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLC | BNO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.67% | 14.22% | -10.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.57% | 36.10% | -26.53% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.26% | 41.46% | -28.20% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.68% | 35.38% | -14.70% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.20% | 36.68% | -14.48% |
XLC vs. BNO - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLC has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is lower than BNO's 0.90% expense ratio.
Dividends
XLC vs. BNO - Dividend Comparison
XLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.25%, while BNO has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNO United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.25% | 1.13% | 0.99% | 0.82% | 1.10% | 0.74% | 0.68% | 0.82% | 0.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XLC and BNO have a correlation of -0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BNO has higher volatility (14.22%) compared to XLC (3.67%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLC dropped -46.65% vs BNO's -87.06%.
On 5-year performance, BNO leads with 24.16% vs 8.28% for XLC. On fees, XLC is cheaper at 0.13% per year. On volatility, XLC has been the lower-risk option at 3.67%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BNO has performed better with a 24.16% return vs 8.28%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
XLC is cheaper with a 0.13% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for BNO.
XLC has the higher dividend yield at 1.25%, compared with 0.00% for BNO.
XLC is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while BNO is Oil & Gas. XLC tracks S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index, while BNO tracks Front Month Brent Crude Oil. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.13% for XLC and 0.90% for BNO.
BNO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.23 vs 0.88), 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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