XLC vs. XLU
Compare and contrast key facts about Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU).
XLC and XLU 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. XLU is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Utilities Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both XLC and XLU 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. XLU - Performance Comparison
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XLC vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLC Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | -5.20% | 23.08% | 34.71% | 52.82% | -37.63% | 15.96% | 26.90% | 31.05% | -16.88% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 8.77% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 7.29% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLC achieves a -5.20% return, which is significantly lower than XLU's 8.77% return.
XLC
- 1D
- 0.34%
- 1M
- -5.32%
- YTD
- -5.20%
- 6M
- -4.07%
- 1Y
- 16.69%
- 3Y*
- 25.63%
- 5Y*
- 9.43%
- 10Y*
- —
XLU
- 1D
- 0.48%
- 1M
- -1.98%
- YTD
- 8.77%
- 6M
- 6.26%
- 1Y
- 19.98%
- 3Y*
- 14.30%
- 5Y*
- 10.90%
- 10Y*
- 9.79%
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XLC vs. XLU - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both XLC and XLU have an expense ratio of 0.13%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
XLC vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
XLC
XLU
XLC vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU). 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 | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.92 | 1.27 | -0.35 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.43 | 1.73 | -0.30 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.23 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.51 | 2.21 | -0.69 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.11 | 5.31 | -0.20 |
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 | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.92 | 1.27 | -0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 | 0.64 | -0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.51 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.53 | 0.41 | +0.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between XLC and XLU is 0.28, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
XLC vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
XLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.26%, less than XLU's 2.58% 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% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 2.58% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Drawdowns
XLC vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLC drawdown since its inception was -46.65%, smaller than the maximum XLU drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLC and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLC | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.65% | -51.98% | +5.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.07% | -9.18% | -1.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -46.65% | -25.26% | -21.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -36.07% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.07% | -2.72% | -4.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.76% | -10.26% | -0.50% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.28% | 3.82% | -0.54% |
Volatility
XLC vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) have volatilities of 5.15% and 5.09%, 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.
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Volatility by Period
| XLC | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.15% | 5.09% | +0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.77% | 10.36% | -0.59% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.29% | 15.79% | +2.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.76% | 17.18% | +3.58% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.36% | 19.21% | +3.15% |