XLK vs. IBIC

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

XLK (State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XLK is a Technology Equities fund tracking the S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index, while IBIC is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, XLK returned 71.15% vs 4.48% for IBIC. At a correlation of -0.08, they often move in opposite directions. XLK charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.

Performance

XLK vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLK achieves a 37.85% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.35% return.

XLK

• 1D: 1.25%
• 1M: 22.45%
• YTD: 37.85%
• 6M: 37.41%
• 1Y: 71.15%
• 3Y*: 34.35%
• 5Y*: 24.55%
• 10Y*: 25.97%

IBIC

• 1D: 0.02%
• 1M: 0.37%
• YTD: 2.35%
• 6M: 2.51%
• 1Y: 4.48%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XLK vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	37.85%	24.61%	21.63%	14.46%
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF	2.35%	4.96%	5.25%	2.17%

Correlation

The correlation between XLK and IBIC is -0.23, 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	-0.23
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 18, 2023	-0.08

The correlation between XLK and IBIC shifts across timeframes, from -0.23 (1 year) to -0.08 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

XLK vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

XLK

XLK Risk / Return Rank: 86
XLK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 93
XLK Sortino Ratio Rank: 89
XLK Omega Ratio Rank: 87
XLK Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
XLK Martin Ratio Rank: 78

IBIC

IBIC Risk / Return Rank: 98
IBIC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
IBIC Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
IBIC Omega Ratio Rank: 98
IBIC Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
IBIC Martin Ratio Rank: 98

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.

XLK vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). 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.

	XLK	IBIC	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	3.44	4.97	-1.53
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	4.12	8.97	-4.86
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.55	2.21	-0.67
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.56	17.05	-12.49
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	15.32	66.57	-51.25
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XLK vs. IBIC - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XLK Sharpe Ratio is 3.44, which is lower than the IBIC Sharpe Ratio of 4.97. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XLK and IBIC, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XLK	IBIC	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.44	4.97	-1.53
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.99	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	1.06	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.42	3.49	-3.07

Drawdowns

XLK vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLK drawdown since its inception was -82.05%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLK and IBIC.

Drawdown Indicators

	XLK	IBIC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-82.05%	-0.90%	-81.15%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.92%	-0.26%	-15.66%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-25.66%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-33.56%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.56%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.15%	+0.15%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-34.96%	-0.10%	-34.86%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.74%	0.07%	+4.67%

Volatility

XLK vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison

State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has a higher volatility of 6.74% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.34%. This indicates that XLK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IBIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XLK	IBIC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.74%	0.34%	+6.40%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.64%	0.67%	+15.97%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.80%	0.90%	+19.90%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	24.90%	1.58%	+23.32%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.49%	1.58%	+22.91%

XLK vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison

XLK has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than IBIC'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

XLK vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison

XLK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.39%, less than IBIC's 3.59% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF	3.59%	4.43%	4.65%	0.83%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XLK State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	0.39%	0.54%	0.66%	0.76%	1.04%	0.65%	0.92%	1.16%	1.60%	1.37%	1.74%	1.79%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XLK and IBIC in my portfolio?

XLK and IBIC have a correlation of -0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XLK or IBIC?

XLK has higher volatility (6.74%) compared to IBIC (0.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLK dropped -82.05% vs IBIC's -0.90%.

Which ETF is better, XLK or IBIC?

On 1-year performance, XLK leads with 71.15% vs 4.48% for IBIC. On fees, XLK is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.34%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XLK or IBIC?

Over the 1-year period, XLK has performed better with a 71.15% return vs 4.48%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XLK or IBIC?

XLK is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for IBIC.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XLK or IBIC?

IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.39% for XLK.

What is the main difference between XLK and IBIC?

XLK is categorized as Technology Equities, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. XLK tracks S&P Technology Select Sector Daily Capped 35/20 Index, while IBIC tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLK and 0.10% for IBIC.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.97 vs 3.44), 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.