XLC vs. LIN
XLC (Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund) is Communications Equities fund tracking the S&P Communication Services Select Sector Index, while LIN (Linde plc) is a stock. Over the past 5 years, XLC returned 8.03%/yr vs 13.98%/yr for LIN. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
XLC vs. LIN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLC achieves a -4.85% return, which is significantly lower than LIN's 23.59% return.
XLC
- 1D
- -0.42%
- 1M
- -4.66%
- YTD
- -4.85%
- 6M
- -3.59%
- 1Y
- 10.19%
- 3Y*
- 21.60%
- 5Y*
- 8.03%
- 10Y*
- —
LIN
- 1D
- 1.58%
- 1M
- 2.65%
- YTD
- 23.59%
- 6M
- 26.61%
- 1Y
- 13.87%
- 3Y*
- 13.38%
- 5Y*
- 13.98%
- 10Y*
- —
XLC vs. LIN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | -4.85% | 23.08% | 34.71% | 52.82% | -37.63% | 15.96% | 26.90% | 31.05% | -15.48% |
LIN Linde plc | 23.59% | 3.22% | 3.18% | 27.66% | -4.39% | 33.39% | 25.88% | 39.04% | -5.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLC and LIN is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 1, 2018 | 0.46 |
Over the past year, the correlation between XLC and LIN has dropped to 0.23 - well below their long-term average of 0.46, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
XLC vs. LIN — Risk / Return Rank
XLC
LIN
XLC vs. LIN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and Linde plc (LIN). 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.
| XLC | LIN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.08 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.13 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.86 | 0.67 | +0.19 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.73 | 1.89 | +0.85 |
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Drawdowns
XLC vs. LIN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLC drawdown since its inception was -46.65%, which is greater than LIN's maximum drawdown of -32.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLC and LIN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLC | LIN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.65% | -32.59% | -14.06% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.57% | -19.18% | +8.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.97% | -19.18% | +1.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -46.65% | -22.82% | -23.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.72% | 0.00% | -6.72% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.58% | -5.41% | -5.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.33% | 6.79% | -3.46% |
Volatility
XLC vs. LIN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) is 3.57%, while Linde plc (LIN) has a volatility of 5.57%. This indicates that XLC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LIN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLC | LIN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.57% | 5.57% | -2.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.65% | 13.53% | -3.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.28% | 17.24% | -3.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.68% | 20.79% | -0.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.17% | 24.08% | -1.91% |
Dividends
XLC vs. LIN - Dividend Comparison
XLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.25%, more than LIN's 1.18% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LIN Linde plc | 1.18% | 1.41% | 1.33% | 1.24% | 1.43% | 1.22% | 1.46% | 1.64% | 0.53% |
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 LIN have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
LIN has higher volatility (5.57%) compared to XLC (3.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLC dropped -46.65% vs LIN's -32.59%.
LIN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.74 vs 0.69), 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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