XLE vs. GS
XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index, while GS (The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XLE returned 9.91%/yr vs 24.48%/yr for GS. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
XLE vs. GS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLE achieves a 29.56% return, which is significantly higher than GS's 22.08% return. Over the past 10 years, XLE has underperformed GS with an annualized return of 9.91%, while GS has yielded a comparatively higher 24.48% 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%
GS
- 1D
- 2.62%
- 1M
- 12.54%
- YTD
- 22.08%
- 6M
- 20.84%
- 1Y
- 76.70%
- 3Y*
- 49.31%
- 5Y*
- 25.98%
- 10Y*
- 24.48%
XLE vs. GS - 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% |
GS The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 22.08% | 56.64% | 52.03% | 15.91% | -7.87% | 47.61% | 17.45% | 40.48% | -33.53% | 7.73% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLE and GS is -0.08, 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 | -0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 4, 1999 | 0.41 |
The correlation between XLE and GS shifts across timeframes, from -0.08 (1 year) to 0.46 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XLE vs. GS — Risk / Return Rank
XLE
GS
XLE vs. GS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS). 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 | GS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.77 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.41 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.10 | 3.80 | -0.70 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.63 | 12.61 | -3.98 |
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Drawdowns
XLE vs. GS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLE drawdown since its inception was -71.26%, smaller than the maximum GS drawdown of -78.84%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLE and GS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLE | GS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -71.26% | -78.84% | +7.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.05% | -19.42% | +7.37% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.14% | -30.90% | +10.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.04% | -32.84% | +6.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -66.81% | -48.75% | -18.06% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.01% | -2.73% | -5.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.97% | -22.65% | +4.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.32% | 5.84% | -1.52% |
Volatility
XLE vs. GS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is 7.26%, while The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) has a volatility of 11.84%. This indicates that XLE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLE | GS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.26% | 11.84% | -4.58% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.79% | 23.47% | -6.68% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.57% | 28.55% | -7.98% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.05% | 28.10% | -2.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.58% | 29.87% | -0.29% |
Dividends
XLE vs. GS - Dividend Comparison
XLE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.59%, more than GS's 1.60% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GS The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 1.60% | 1.59% | 2.01% | 2.72% | 2.62% | 1.70% | 1.90% | 1.80% | 1.89% | 1.14% | 1.09% | 1.41% |
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 GS have a correlation of -0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GS has higher volatility (11.84%) compared to XLE (7.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLE dropped -71.26% vs GS's -78.84%.
GS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.59 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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