XLE vs. VSDB
XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) and VSDB (Vanguard Short Duration Bond ETF Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - XLE is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Energy Select Sector Index, while VSDB is a Short-Term Bond fund actively managed by Vanguard. XLE is passively managed, while VSDB is actively managed. Over the past year, XLE returned 47.98% vs 5.06% for VSDB. At a correlation of -0.22, they often move in opposite directions. XLE charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for VSDB.
Performance
XLE vs. VSDB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLE achieves a 32.26% return, which is significantly higher than VSDB's 1.00% return.
XLE
- 1D
- 0.07%
- 1M
- -1.18%
- YTD
- 32.26%
- 6M
- 29.34%
- 1Y
- 47.98%
- 3Y*
- 17.74%
- 5Y*
- 20.45%
- 10Y*
- 9.99%
VSDB
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- YTD
- 1.00%
- 6M
- 1.50%
- 1Y
- 5.06%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
XLE vs. VSDB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
XLE State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 32.26% | 5.71% |
VSDB Vanguard Short Duration Bond ETF Shares | 1.00% | 4.85% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLE and VSDB is -0.26, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.26 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 4, 2025 | -0.22 |
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Return for Risk
XLE vs. VSDB — Risk / Return Rank
XLE
VSDB
XLE vs. VSDB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and Vanguard Short Duration Bond ETF Shares (VSDB). 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.
| XLE | VSDB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.58 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.59 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.61 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.00 | 3.57 | +0.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.60 | 15.78 | -4.18 |
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
| XLE | VSDB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.36 | 2.94 | -0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.79 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.34 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 2.68 | -2.37 |
Drawdowns
XLE vs. VSDB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLE drawdown since its inception was -71.26%, which is greater than VSDB's maximum drawdown of -1.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLE and VSDB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLE | VSDB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -71.26% | -1.42% | -69.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.05% | -1.42% | -10.63% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.14% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.04% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -66.81% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.09% | -0.10% | -5.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.98% | -0.19% | -17.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.15% | 0.32% | +3.83% |
Volatility
XLE vs. VSDB - Volatility Comparison
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) has a higher volatility of 8.25% compared to Vanguard Short Duration Bond ETF Shares (VSDB) at 0.55%. This indicates that XLE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSDB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLE | VSDB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.25% | 0.55% | +7.70% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.51% | 1.35% | +15.16% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.50% | 1.75% | +18.75% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.01% | 1.89% | +24.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.58% | 1.89% | +27.69% |
XLE vs. VSDB - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLE has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than VSDB's 0.15% 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. VSDB - Dividend Comparison
XLE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.54%, less than VSDB's 4.16% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSDB Vanguard Short Duration Bond ETF Shares | 4.16% | 3.30% | 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 | 2.54% | 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 VSDB have a correlation of -0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XLE has higher volatility (8.25%) compared to VSDB (0.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLE dropped -71.26% vs VSDB's -1.42%.
On 1-year performance, XLE leads with 47.98% vs 5.06% for VSDB. On fees, XLE is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, VSDB has been the lower-risk option at 0.55%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, XLE has performed better with a 47.98% return vs 5.06%. 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 0.15% for VSDB.
VSDB has the higher dividend yield at 4.16%, compared with 2.54% for XLE.
XLE is categorized as Energy Equities, while VSDB is Short-Term Bond. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLE and 0.15% for VSDB.
VSDB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.94 vs 2.36), 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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