XLC vs. DIA

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA).

XLC and DIA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XLC is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index. It was launched on Jun 18, 2018. DIA is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It was launched on Jan 14, 1998. Both XLC and DIA are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

XLC vs. DIA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

XLC vs. DIA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund	-5.53%	23.08%	34.71%	52.82%	-37.63%	15.96%	26.90%	31.05%	-16.88%
DIA SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF	-3.25%	14.71%	14.82%	16.02%	-7.02%	20.83%	9.59%	24.70%	-4.49%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLC achieves a -5.53% return, which is significantly lower than DIA's -3.25% return.

XLC

• 1D: 2.69%
• 1M: -5.79%
• YTD: -5.53%
• 6M: -5.74%
• 1Y: 16.36%
• 3Y*: 25.49%
• 5Y*: 9.35%
• 10Y*: —

DIA

• 1D: 2.46%
• 1M: -5.20%
• YTD: -3.25%
• 6M: 0.64%
• 1Y: 12.04%
• 3Y*: 13.58%
• 5Y*: 8.82%
• 10Y*: 12.22%

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

XLC vs. DIA - Expense Ratio Comparison

XLC has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is lower than DIA's 0.16% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

DIA

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF

XLC

Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund

Return for Risk

XLC vs. DIA — Risk / Return Rank

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

XLC

XLC Risk / Return Rank: 58
XLC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 54
XLC Sortino Ratio Rank: 58
XLC Omega Ratio Rank: 55
XLC Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
XLC Martin Ratio Rank: 58

DIA

DIA Risk / Return Rank: 47
DIA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 42
DIA Sortino Ratio Rank: 44
DIA Omega Ratio Rank: 43
DIA Calmar Ratio Rank: 53
DIA Martin Ratio Rank: 51

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.

XLC vs. DIA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA). 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	DIA	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.90	0.72	+0.18
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.40	1.14	+0.26
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.19	1.16	+0.03
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.56	1.22	+0.33
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.30	4.51	+0.79
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XLC vs. DIA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XLC Sharpe Ratio is 0.90, which is comparable to the DIA Sharpe Ratio of 0.72. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XLC and DIA, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XLC	DIA	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.90	0.72	+0.18
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.45	0.60	-0.15
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.70	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.53	0.47	+0.06

Correlation

The correlation between XLC and DIA is 0.70, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

XLC vs. DIA - Dividend Comparison

XLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.26%, less than DIA's 1.52% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund	1.26%	1.13%	0.99%	0.82%	1.10%	0.74%	0.68%	0.82%	0.64%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
DIA SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF	1.52%	1.43%	1.61%	1.81%	1.91%	1.58%	1.87%	1.85%	2.24%	1.97%	2.26%	2.33%

Drawdowns

XLC vs. DIA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLC drawdown since its inception was -46.65%, smaller than the maximum DIA drawdown of -51.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLC and DIA.

Drawdown Indicators

	XLC	DIA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-46.65%	-51.87%	+5.22%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.07%	-10.79%	-0.28%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-46.65%	-20.76%	-25.89%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-36.70%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.38%	-7.40%	+0.02%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.76%	-7.18%	-3.58%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.25%	2.92%	+0.33%

Volatility

XLC vs. DIA - Volatility Comparison

Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) have volatilities of 5.12% and 4.92%, 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

	XLC	DIA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.12%	4.92%	+0.20%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.76%	9.23%	+0.53%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.30%	16.84%	+1.46%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.77%	14.73%	+6.04%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.37%	17.51%	+4.86%