XLU vs. XAD.TO

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) and XAD.TO (iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XLU is a Utilities Equities fund tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index, while XAD.TO is a Aerospace & Defense fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, XLU returned 12.50% vs 30.79% for XAD.TO. At a 0.19 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XLU charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.44%/yr for XAD.TO.

Performance

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index ETF (XAD.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

XLU is traded in USD, while XAD.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the XAD.TO values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLU achieves a 5.04% return, which is significantly lower than XAD.TO's 8.97% 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%

XAD.TO

• 1D: -0.65%
• 1M: 7.53%
• YTD: 8.97%
• 6M: 12.08%
• 1Y: 30.79%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF	5.04%	16.03%	23.31%	-0.69%
XAD.TO iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index ETF	8.97%	48.55%	15.24%	16.07%

Correlation

The correlation between XLU and XAD.TO is 0.22, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.22
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 19, 2023	0.19

Return for Risk

XLU vs. XAD.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

XLU

XLU Risk / Return Rank: 26
XLU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 26
XLU Sortino Ratio Rank: 24
XLU Omega Ratio Rank: 24
XLU Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
XLU Martin Ratio Rank: 24

XAD.TO

XAD.TO Risk / Return Rank: 52
XAD.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
XAD.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 59
XAD.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 51
XAD.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 53
XAD.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 41

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.

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index ETF (XAD.TO). 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	XAD.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.81	1.48	-0.67
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.18	2.21	-1.03
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.15	1.25	-0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.30	2.02	-0.73
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.80	5.32	-2.52

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XLU Sharpe Ratio is 0.81, which is lower than the XAD.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.48. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XLU and XAD.TO, 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

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLU drawdown since its inception was -51.98%, which is greater than XAD.TO's maximum drawdown of -15.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLU and XAD.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XLU	XAD.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-51.98%	-15.78%	-36.20%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.18%	-15.78%	+6.60%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-17.26%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.26%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-36.07%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.05%	-6.37%	+0.32%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.22%	-2.97%	-7.25%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.25%	5.99%	-1.74%

Volatility

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is 5.59%, while iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index ETF (XAD.TO) has a volatility of 7.64%. This indicates that XLU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XAD.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XLU	XAD.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.59%	7.64%	-2.05%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.68%	17.61%	-5.93%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.66%	21.57%	-6.91%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.34%	20.46%	-3.12%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.27%	20.46%	-1.19%

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XLU has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than XAD.TO's 0.44% expense ratio.

Dividends

XLU vs. XAD.TO - Dividend Comparison

XLU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.67%, more than XAD.TO's 0.32% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XAD.TO iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index ETF	0.32%	0.35%	0.44%	0.24%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
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

Can I hold both XLU and XAD.TO in my portfolio?

XLU and XAD.TO have a correlation of 0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XLU or XAD.TO?

On fees, XLU is cheaper at 0.08% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XLU or XAD.TO?

XLU is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.44% for XAD.TO.

What is the main difference between XLU and XAD.TO?

XLU is categorized as Utilities Equities, while XAD.TO is Aerospace & Defense. XLU tracks Utilities Select Sector Index, while XAD.TO tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLU and 0.44% for XAD.TO.