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XLE vs. XLK
Performance
Return for Risk
Dividends
Drawdowns
Volatility

XLE vs. XLK

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK).

XLE and XLK are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XLE is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Energy Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. XLK is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both XLE and XLK are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

XLE vs. XLK - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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XLE vs. XLK - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
XLE
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF		37.91%7.88%5.56%-0.63%64.32%53.28%-32.67%11.74%-18.22%-0.89%
XLK
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF		-7.57%24.61%21.63%56.02%-27.73%34.74%43.62%49.86%-1.68%34.26%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLE achieves a 37.91% return, which is significantly higher than XLK's -7.57% return. Over the past 10 years, XLE has underperformed XLK with an annualized return of 11.65%, while XLK has yielded a comparatively higher 20.82% annualized return.

XLE

1D
-1.13%
1M
10.27%
YTD
37.91%
6M
39.21%
1Y
35.32%
3Y*
17.71%
5Y*
23.99%
10Y*
11.65%

XLK

1D
4.24%
1M
-4.10%
YTD
-7.57%
6M
-5.44%
1Y
29.46%
3Y*
21.58%
5Y*
15.31%
10Y*
20.82%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF

State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF

Often compared with XLE:
XLE vs. VDEXLE vs. USOXLE vs. XOPXLE vs. XLUXLE vs. IXCXLE vs. FENYXLE vs. OIH
Often compared with XLK:
XLK vs. QQQXLK vs. VGTXLK vs. SMHXLK vs. SPYXLK vs. FTECXLK vs. IYWXLK vs. VOO

XLE vs. XLK - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both XLE and XLK have an expense ratio of 0.08%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

XLE
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLK
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF

Return for Risk

XLE vs. XLK — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XLE
XLE Risk / Return Rank: 7373
Overall Rank
XLE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7979
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XLE Sortino Ratio Rank: 7676
Sortino Ratio Rank
XLE Omega Ratio Rank: 7777
Omega Ratio Rank
XLE Calmar Ratio Rank: 7878
Calmar Ratio Rank
XLE Martin Ratio Rank: 5858
Martin Ratio Rank
XLK
XLK Risk / Return Rank: 6969
Overall Rank
XLK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6666
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XLK Sortino Ratio Rank: 6969
Sortino Ratio Rank
XLK Omega Ratio Rank: 6767
Omega Ratio Rank
XLK Calmar Ratio Rank: 7575
Calmar Ratio Rank
XLK Martin Ratio Rank: 6565
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

XLE vs. XLK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). 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.

XLEXLKDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.42

1.10

+0.33

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

1.84

1.66

+0.17

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.28

1.23

+0.04

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.96

1.85

+0.10

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

5.16

5.98

-0.83

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XLE vs. XLK - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XLE Sharpe Ratio is 1.42, which is higher than the XLK Sharpe Ratio of 1.10. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XLE and XLK, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

XLEXLKDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.42

1.10

+0.33

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.93

0.62

+0.30

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.40

0.86

-0.46

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.32

0.36

-0.04

Correlation

The correlation between XLE and XLK is 0.38, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

XLE vs. XLK - Dividend Comparison

XLE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.44%, more than XLK's 0.57% yield.

TTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XLE
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF		2.44%3.28%3.36%3.55%3.68%4.21%5.62%6.72%3.54%3.03%2.26%3.39%
XLK
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF		0.57%0.54%0.66%0.76%1.04%0.65%0.92%1.16%1.60%1.37%1.74%1.79%

Drawdowns

XLE vs. XLK - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLE drawdown since its inception was -71.26%, smaller than the maximum XLK drawdown of -82.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLE and XLK.

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Drawdown Indicators

XLEXLKDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-71.26%

-82.05%

+10.79%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-18.79%

-15.92%

-2.87%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-26.04%

-33.56%

+7.52%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-66.81%

-33.56%

-33.25%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.08%

-12.36%

+10.28%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-18.05%

-35.17%

+17.12%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

7.14%

4.93%

+2.21%

Volatility

XLE vs. XLK - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is 5.05%, while State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has a volatility of 8.06%. This indicates that XLE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XLK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XLEXLKDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.05%

8.06%

-3.01%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.94%

16.43%

-2.49%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

24.93%

27.02%

-2.09%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

26.06%

24.72%

+1.34%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

29.48%

24.33%

+5.15%