XLF vs. IXG
Compare and contrast key facts about Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) and iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG).
XLF and IXG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XLF is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Financial Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. IXG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Global Financials Sector Index. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. Both XLF and IXG 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
XLF vs. IXG - Performance Comparison
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XLF vs. IXG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | -9.40% | 14.90% | 30.56% | 12.03% | -10.59% | 34.80% | -1.74% | 31.88% | -13.06% | 22.00% |
IXG iShares Global Financials ETF | -5.62% | 28.54% | 25.69% | 14.97% | -8.97% | 25.07% | -2.99% | 24.60% | -16.33% | 23.78% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLF achieves a -9.40% return, which is significantly lower than IXG's -5.62% return. Over the past 10 years, XLF has outperformed IXG with an annualized return of 12.44%, while IXG has yielded a comparatively lower 11.63% annualized return.
XLF
- 1D
- 2.09%
- 1M
- -3.51%
- YTD
- -9.40%
- 6M
- -7.56%
- 1Y
- 0.65%
- 3Y*
- 17.25%
- 5Y*
- 9.34%
- 10Y*
- 12.44%
IXG
- 1D
- 2.87%
- 1M
- -4.83%
- YTD
- -5.62%
- 6M
- -1.42%
- 1Y
- 13.11%
- 3Y*
- 21.31%
- 5Y*
- 11.87%
- 10Y*
- 11.63%
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XLF vs. IXG - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLF has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is lower than IXG's 0.46% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
XLF vs. IXG — Risk / Return Rank
XLF
IXG
XLF vs. IXG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) and iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG). 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.
| XLF | IXG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.03 | 0.73 | -0.69 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.18 | 1.09 | -0.91 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.02 | 1.16 | -0.14 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.13 | 1.07 | -0.94 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.38 | 3.96 | -3.58 |
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
| XLF | IXG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.03 | 0.73 | -0.69 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.50 | 0.69 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 | 0.58 | -0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.20 | 0.23 | -0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between XLF and IXG is 0.85, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
XLF vs. IXG - Dividend Comparison
XLF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.60%, less than IXG's 2.16% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.60% | 1.31% | 1.42% | 1.71% | 2.04% | 1.63% | 2.03% | 1.87% | 2.08% | 1.48% | 21.10% | 1.95% |
IXG iShares Global Financials ETF | 2.16% | 2.04% | 2.64% | 2.62% | 3.71% | 1.69% | 2.13% | 2.87% | 3.14% | 2.12% | 2.21% | 2.79% |
Drawdowns
XLF vs. IXG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLF drawdown since its inception was -82.69%, which is greater than IXG's maximum drawdown of -78.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLF and IXG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLF | IXG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -82.69% | -78.42% | -4.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.79% | -12.79% | -2.00% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.81% | -27.20% | +1.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.86% | -43.47% | +0.61% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.01% | -8.13% | -3.88% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.10% | -19.88% | -0.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.90% | 3.44% | +1.46% |
Volatility
XLF vs. IXG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) is 4.75%, while iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) has a volatility of 5.96%. This indicates that XLF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IXG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLF | IXG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.75% | 5.96% | -1.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.45% | 10.50% | +0.95% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.29% | 18.12% | +1.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.69% | 17.30% | +1.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.19% | 20.15% | +2.04% |