XLE vs. GLDM
XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) and GLDM (SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - XLE is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index, while GLDM is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XLE returned 22.66%/yr vs 19.13%/yr for GLDM. Their 0.07 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. XLE charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for GLDM.
Performance
XLE vs. GLDM - 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 GLDM's -1.57% 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%
GLDM
- 1D
- 4.13%
- 1M
- 1.99%
- 6M
- -14.01%
- YTD
- -1.57%
- 1Y
- 25.59%
- 3Y*
- 29.70%
- 5Y*
- 19.13%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 16.01%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $268.55M | $254.45M | $318.52M | |
| $1.81B | $1.78B | $1.93B |
XLE vs. GLDM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 29.95% | 7.88% | 5.56% | -0.63% | 64.32% | 53.28% | -32.67% | 11.74% | -20.85% |
GLDM SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | -1.57% | 64.20% | 27.08% | 13.04% | -0.47% | -4.01% | 25.10% | 18.10% | 1.75% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLE and GLDM is -0.02, meaning there was essentially no consistent relationship between their historical price movements. Each responded to its own set of market drivers.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | -0.02 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.08 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.12 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2018 | 0.07 |
The correlation between XLE and GLDM shifts across timeframes, from -0.02 (1 year) to 0.12 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XLE vs. GLDM — Risk / Return Rank
XLE
GLDM
XLE vs. GLDM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM). 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 | GLDM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.91 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.10 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.19 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.56 | 0.98 | +1.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.80 | 2.07 | +4.73 |
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Drawdowns
XLE vs. GLDM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLE drawdown since its inception was -71.26%, which is greater than GLDM's maximum drawdown of -26.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLE and GLDM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLE | GLDM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -71.26% | -26.27% | -44.99% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.98% | -26.27% | +11.29% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.14% | -26.27% | +6.13% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.04% | -26.27% | +0.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -66.81% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.73% | -21.30% | +13.57% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.93% | -6.59% | -11.34% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.64% | 12.39% | -6.75% |
Volatility
XLE vs. GLDM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is 6.16%, while SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) has a volatility of 7.12%. This indicates that XLE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLDM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLE | GLDM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.16% | 7.12% | -0.96% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.48% | 19.92% | -3.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.12% | 28.14% | -7.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.76% | 18.49% | +7.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.58% | 17.14% | +12.44% |
XLE vs. GLDM - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLE has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than GLDM's 0.10% 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%.
Dividends
XLE vs. GLDM - Dividend Comparison
XLE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.65%, while GLDM has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLDM SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 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 GLDM have a correlation of -0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GLDM has higher volatility (7.12%) compared to XLE (6.16%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLE dropped -71.26% vs GLDM's -26.27%.
On 5-year performance, XLE leads with 22.66% vs 19.13% for GLDM. On fees, XLE is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, XLE has been the lower-risk option at 6.16%. 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 19.13%. 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 0.10% for GLDM.
XLE has the higher dividend yield at 2.65%, compared with 0.00% for GLDM.
XLE is categorized as Energy Equities, while GLDM is Gold. XLE tracks Energy Select Sector Index, while GLDM tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLE and 0.10% for GLDM.
XLE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.82 vs 0.91), 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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