XLP vs. ARCC

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

XLP (State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Consumer Staples Equities fund tracking the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index, while ARCC (Ares Capital Corporation) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XLP returned 7.60%/yr vs 13.20%/yr for ARCC. At a 0.38 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

XLP vs. ARCC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) and Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLP achieves a 11.10% return, which is significantly higher than ARCC's -2.20% return. Over the past 10 years, XLP has underperformed ARCC with an annualized return of 7.60%, while ARCC has yielded a comparatively higher 13.20% annualized return.

XLP

• 1D: 0.65%
• 1M: 0.99%
• YTD: 11.10%
• 6M: 9.54%
• 1Y: 8.93%
• 3Y*: 8.26%
• 5Y*: 6.65%
• 10Y*: 7.60%

ARCC

• 1D: 1.00%
• 1M: 1.69%
• YTD: -2.20%
• 6M: -2.87%
• 1Y: -3.87%
• 3Y*: 10.27%
• 5Y*: 9.04%
• 10Y*: 13.20%

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

XLP vs. ARCC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XLP State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF	11.10%	1.52%	12.20%	-0.82%	-0.81%	17.20%	10.11%	27.43%	-8.07%	12.98%
ARCC Ares Capital Corporation	-2.20%	1.07%	19.78%	20.03%	-3.84%	36.14%	0.86%	31.30%	8.81%	4.50%

Correlation

The correlation between XLP and ARCC 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	0.19
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.29
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.30
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 6, 2004	0.38

Over the past year, the correlation between XLP and ARCC has dropped to 0.08 - well below their long-term average of 0.38, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

XLP vs. ARCC — Risk / Return Rank

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

XLP

XLP Risk / Return Rank: 19
XLP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 20
XLP Sortino Ratio Rank: 20
XLP Omega Ratio Rank: 18
XLP Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
XLP Martin Ratio Rank: 17

ARCC

ARCC Risk / Return Rank: 31
ARCC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
ARCC Sortino Ratio Rank: 26
ARCC Omega Ratio Rank: 26
ARCC Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
ARCC Martin Ratio Rank: 35

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.

XLP vs. ARCC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) and Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC). 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.

	XLP	ARCC	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.59	-0.27	+0.87
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.94	-0.26	+1.19
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.11	0.97	+0.14
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.79	-0.26	+1.05
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	1.52	-0.47	+2.00

XLP vs. ARCC - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XLP Sharpe Ratio is 0.59, which is higher than the ARCC Sharpe Ratio of -0.27. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XLP and ARCC, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

XLP vs. ARCC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLP drawdown since its inception was -35.90%, smaller than the maximum ARCC drawdown of -79.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLP and ARCC.

Drawdown Indicators

	XLP	ARCC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-35.90%	-79.36%	+43.46%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.69%	-19.35%	+9.66%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.39%	-19.35%	+6.96%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.30%	-21.76%	+5.46%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-24.51%	-56.77%	+32.26%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.12%	-10.98%	+6.86%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.06%	-9.10%	+2.04%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.01%	10.68%	-5.67%

Volatility

XLP vs. ARCC - Volatility Comparison

State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) has a higher volatility of 4.53% compared to Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) at 3.72%. This indicates that XLP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ARCC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XLP	ARCC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.53%	3.72%	+0.81%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.14%	14.83%	-4.69%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.90%	18.48%	-5.58%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.34%	19.96%	-6.62%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.75%	25.58%	-10.83%

Dividends

XLP vs. ARCC - Dividend Comparison

XLP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.53%, less than ARCC's 9.97% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ARCC Ares Capital Corporation	7.48%	9.49%	8.77%	9.59%	10.12%	7.65%	9.47%	9.01%	9.88%	9.67%	9.22%	11.02%
XLP State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF	2.53%	2.75%	2.77%	2.63%	2.47%	2.28%	2.50%	2.57%	3.04%	2.62%	2.53%	2.52%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XLP and ARCC in my portfolio?

XLP and ARCC 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.

Which is riskier, XLP or ARCC?

XLP has higher volatility (4.53%) compared to ARCC (3.72%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLP dropped -35.90% vs ARCC's -79.36%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

XLP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.59 vs -0.27), 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.