XLE vs. FLMI
XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) and FLMI (Franklin Liberty Federal Intermediate Tax-Free Bond Opportunities ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XLE is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index, while FLMI is a Municipal Bonds fund actively managed by Franklin Templeton. XLE is passively managed, while FLMI is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, XLE returned 22.66%/yr vs 1.75%/yr for FLMI. Their -0.10 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. XLE charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.30%/yr for FLMI.
Performance
XLE vs. FLMI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLE achieves a 29.95% return, which is significantly higher than FLMI's 1.53% return.
XLE
- 1D
- -2.07%
- 1M
- 7.87%
- 6M
- 9.98%
- YTD
- 29.95%
- 1Y
- 38.22%
- 3Y*
- 13.23%
- 5Y*
- 22.66%
- 10Y*
- 9.80%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.71%
FLMI
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -1.42%
- 6M
- 0.30%
- YTD
- 1.53%
- 1Y
- 6.34%
- 3Y*
- 5.64%
- 5Y*
- 1.75%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 2.90%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $17.19M | $15.66M | $18.33M | |
| $1.81B | $1.78B | $1.93B |
XLE vs. FLMI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 29.95% | 7.88% | 5.56% | -0.63% | 64.32% | 53.28% | -32.67% | 11.74% | -18.22% | 15.92% |
FLMI Franklin Liberty Federal Intermediate Tax-Free Bond Opportunities ETF | 1.53% | 5.89% | 4.91% | 7.89% | -10.23% | 4.06% | 6.11% | 6.71% | 0.29% | -0.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLE and FLMI is -0.32, meaning they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. This relationship can weaken or reverse as market conditions change.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | -0.32 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | -0.10 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | -0.08 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 5, 2017 | -0.10 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between XLE and FLMI has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.10 to -0.32, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
XLE vs. FLMI — Risk / Return Rank
XLE
FLMI
XLE vs. FLMI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and Franklin Liberty Federal Intermediate Tax-Free Bond Opportunities ETF (FLMI). 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 | FLMI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.35 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.68 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.47 | -0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.56 | 2.20 | +0.36 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.80 | 7.38 | -0.58 |
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Drawdowns
XLE vs. FLMI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLE drawdown since its inception was -71.26%, which is greater than FLMI's maximum drawdown of -14.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLE and FLMI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLE | FLMI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -71.26% | -14.66% | -56.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.98% | -2.90% | -12.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.14% | -4.66% | -15.48% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.04% | -14.52% | -11.52% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -66.81% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.73% | -1.42% | -6.31% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.93% | -2.78% | -15.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.64% | 0.86% | +4.78% |
Volatility
XLE vs. FLMI - Volatility Comparison
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) has a higher volatility of 6.16% compared to Franklin Liberty Federal Intermediate Tax-Free Bond Opportunities ETF (FLMI) at 1.06%. This indicates that XLE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FLMI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLE | FLMI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.16% | 1.06% | +5.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.48% | 2.31% | +14.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.12% | 2.94% | +18.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.76% | 4.46% | +21.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.58% | 4.69% | +24.89% |
XLE vs. FLMI - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLE has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than FLMI's 0.30% expense ratio.
Dividends
XLE vs. FLMI - Dividend Comparison
XLE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.65%, less than FLMI's 3.97% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLMI Franklin Liberty Federal Intermediate Tax-Free Bond Opportunities ETF | 3.97% | 3.89% | 4.08% | 3.71% | 3.08% | 2.22% | 2.09% | 2.71% | 2.41% | 0.34% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.65% | 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 FLMI have a correlation of -0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XLE has higher volatility (6.16%) compared to FLMI (1.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLE dropped -71.26% vs FLMI's -14.66%.
On 5-year performance, XLE leads with 22.66% vs 1.75% for FLMI. On fees, XLE is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, FLMI has been the lower-risk option at 1.06%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, XLE has performed better with a 22.66% return vs 1.75%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
XLE is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.30% for FLMI.
FLMI has the higher dividend yield at 3.97%, compared with 2.65% for XLE.
XLE is categorized as Energy Equities, while FLMI is Municipal Bonds. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Franklin Templeton. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLE and 0.30% for FLMI.
FLMI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 vs 1.82), 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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