XLE vs. CLF
XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index, while CLF (Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XLE returned 9.91%/yr vs 11.73%/yr for CLF. At a 0.45 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
XLE vs. CLF - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLE achieves a 29.56% return, which is significantly higher than CLF's 3.77% return. Over the past 10 years, XLE has underperformed CLF with an annualized return of 9.91%, while CLF has yielded a comparatively higher 11.73% annualized return.
XLE
- 1D
- 0.75%
- 1M
- -3.18%
- YTD
- 29.56%
- 6M
- 28.37%
- 1Y
- 34.84%
- 3Y*
- 16.18%
- 5Y*
- 20.12%
- 10Y*
- 9.91%
CLF
- 1D
- 0.51%
- 1M
- 33.66%
- YTD
- 3.77%
- 6M
- 8.42%
- 1Y
- 92.19%
- 3Y*
- -6.24%
- 5Y*
- -10.83%
- 10Y*
- 11.73%
XLE vs. CLF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 29.56% | 7.88% | 5.56% | -0.63% | 64.32% | 53.28% | -32.67% | 11.74% | -18.22% | -0.89% |
CLF Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. | 3.77% | 41.28% | -53.97% | 26.75% | -26.00% | 49.52% | 77.38% | 12.72% | 6.66% | -14.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLE and CLF is 0.04, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 1998 | 0.45 |
Over the past year, the correlation between XLE and CLF has dropped to 0.04 - well below their long-term average of 0.45, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
XLE vs. CLF — Risk / Return Rank
XLE
CLF
XLE vs. CLF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF). 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.
| XLE | CLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.47 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.25 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.10 | 1.79 | +1.31 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.63 | 3.68 | +4.95 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
XLE vs. CLF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLE drawdown since its inception was -71.26%, smaller than the maximum CLF drawdown of -98.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLE and CLF.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| XLE | CLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -71.26% | -98.78% | +27.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.05% | -51.67% | +39.62% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.14% | -74.46% | +54.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.04% | -82.37% | +56.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -66.81% | -82.37% | +15.56% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.01% | -85.95% | +77.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.97% | -47.62% | +29.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.32% | 25.06% | -20.74% |
Volatility
XLE vs. CLF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is 7.26%, while Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) has a volatility of 22.19%. This indicates that XLE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CLF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| XLE | CLF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.26% | 22.19% | -14.93% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.79% | 47.32% | -30.53% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.57% | 68.48% | -47.91% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.05% | 59.28% | -33.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.58% | 62.12% | -32.54% |
Dividends
XLE vs. CLF - Dividend Comparison
XLE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.59%, while CLF has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CLF Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.82% | 3.10% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.59% | 3.28% | 3.36% | 3.55% | 3.68% | 4.21% | 5.62% | 6.72% | 3.54% | 3.03% | 2.26% | 3.39% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XLE and CLF have a correlation of 0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CLF has higher volatility (22.19%) compared to XLE (7.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLE dropped -71.26% vs CLF's -98.78%.
XLE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.82 vs 1.35), 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.
Find the right allocation for XLE and CLF
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer