XLU vs. IP
XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Utilities Equities fund tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index, while IP (International Paper Company) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XLU returned 9.20%/yr vs 3.48%/yr for IP. At a 0.32 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
XLU vs. IP - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLU achieves a 5.04% return, which is significantly higher than IP's -5.93% return. Over the past 10 years, XLU has outperformed IP with an annualized return of 9.20%, while IP has yielded a comparatively lower 3.48% annualized return.
XLU
- 1D
- 1.09%
- 1M
- -0.82%
- YTD
- 5.04%
- 6M
- 5.48%
- 1Y
- 12.50%
- 3Y*
- 13.79%
- 5Y*
- 9.41%
- 10Y*
- 9.20%
IP
- 1D
- 3.43%
- 1M
- 16.10%
- YTD
- -5.93%
- 6M
- -3.85%
- 1Y
- -17.46%
- 3Y*
- 9.44%
- 5Y*
- -5.62%
- 10Y*
- 3.48%
XLU vs. IP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 5.04% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 12.05% |
IP International Paper Company | -5.93% | -23.83% | 55.31% | 10.20% | -23.05% | 3.48% | 13.83% | 19.47% | -27.72% | 13.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLU and IP is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 1998 | 0.32 |
The correlation between XLU and IP shifts across timeframes, from 0.19 (1 year) to 0.32 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XLU vs. IP — Risk / Return Rank
XLU
IP
XLU vs. IP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) and International Paper Company (IP). 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.
| XLU | IP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.58 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 0.95 | +0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.30 | -0.43 | +1.73 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.80 | -0.78 | +3.58 |
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Drawdowns
XLU vs. IP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLU drawdown since its inception was -51.98%, smaller than the maximum IP drawdown of -90.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLU and IP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLU | IP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.98% | -90.62% | +38.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.18% | -45.52% | +36.34% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.26% | -48.61% | +31.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.26% | -48.61% | +23.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.07% | -55.27% | +19.20% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.05% | -35.82% | +29.77% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.22% | -20.89% | +10.67% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.25% | 25.34% | -21.09% |
Volatility
XLU vs. IP - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is 5.59%, while International Paper Company (IP) has a volatility of 15.74%. This indicates that XLU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLU | IP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.59% | 15.74% | -10.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.68% | 32.96% | -21.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.66% | 42.63% | -27.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.34% | 32.86% | -15.52% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.27% | 32.35% | -13.08% |
Dividends
XLU vs. IP - Dividend Comparison
XLU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.67%, less than IP's 5.12% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IP International Paper Company | 5.12% | 4.70% | 3.44% | 5.12% | 5.34% | 4.08% | 4.12% | 4.37% | 4.77% | 3.21% | 3.36% | 4.35% |
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.67% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XLU and IP have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IP has higher volatility (15.74%) compared to XLU (5.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLU dropped -51.98% vs IP's -90.62%.
XLU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.81 vs -0.46), 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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