XLV vs. SHY
XLV (State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF) and SHY (iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XLV is a Health & Biotech Equities fund tracking the Health Care Select Sector Index, while SHY is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE US Treasury 1-3 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XLV returned 9.81%/yr vs 1.65%/yr for SHY. At a correlation of -0.12, they often move in opposite directions. XLV charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for SHY.
Performance
XLV vs. SHY - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLV achieves a -0.23% return, which is significantly lower than SHY's 0.55% return. Over the past 10 years, XLV has outperformed SHY with an annualized return of 9.81%, while SHY has yielded a comparatively lower 1.65% annualized return.
XLV
- 1D
- -0.18%
- 1M
- 4.84%
- YTD
- -0.23%
- 6M
- 0.67%
- 1Y
- 14.43%
- 3Y*
- 7.12%
- 5Y*
- 6.00%
- 10Y*
- 9.81%
SHY
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- 0.15%
- YTD
- 0.55%
- 6M
- 0.80%
- 1Y
- 3.22%
- 3Y*
- 4.15%
- 5Y*
- 1.74%
- 10Y*
- 1.65%
XLV vs. SHY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLV State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF | -0.23% | 14.50% | 2.47% | 2.07% | -2.08% | 26.04% | 13.30% | 20.45% | 6.28% | 21.77% |
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.55% | 4.95% | 3.92% | 4.16% | -3.88% | -0.71% | 3.03% | 3.38% | 1.46% | 0.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLV and SHY is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2002 | -0.12 |
The correlation between XLV and SHY shifts across timeframes, from -0.12 (all time) to 0.31 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
XLV vs. SHY — Risk / Return Rank
XLV
SHY
XLV vs. SHY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) and iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY). 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.
| XLV | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.46 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.42 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.50 | -0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.38 | 3.64 | -2.25 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.31 | 14.45 | -11.14 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
XLV vs. SHY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLV drawdown since its inception was -39.17%, which is greater than SHY's maximum drawdown of -5.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLV and SHY.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| XLV | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -39.17% | -5.71% | -33.46% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.47% | -0.89% | -9.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.11% | -0.97% | -16.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.11% | -5.71% | -11.40% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.40% | -5.71% | -22.69% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.59% | -0.18% | -3.41% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.12% | -0.52% | -6.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.37% | 0.22% | +4.15% |
Volatility
XLV vs. SHY - Volatility Comparison
State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) has a higher volatility of 4.90% compared to iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) at 0.40%. This indicates that XLV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SHY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| XLV | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.90% | 0.40% | +4.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.60% | 0.95% | +9.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.03% | 1.33% | +13.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.75% | 1.99% | +12.76% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.58% | 1.57% | +15.01% |
XLV vs. SHY - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLV has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than SHY's 0.15% 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
XLV vs. SHY - Dividend Comparison
XLV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.63%, less than SHY's 3.68% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.68% | 3.81% | 3.92% | 2.99% | 1.30% | 0.26% | 0.94% | 2.12% | 1.72% | 0.98% | 0.71% | 0.54% |
XLV State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF | 1.63% | 1.60% | 1.67% | 1.59% | 1.47% | 1.33% | 1.49% | 2.17% | 1.57% | 1.47% | 1.60% | 1.43% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XLV and SHY have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XLV has higher volatility (4.90%) compared to SHY (0.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLV dropped -39.17% vs SHY's -5.71%.
On 10-year performance, XLV leads with 9.81% vs 1.65% for SHY. On fees, XLV is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, SHY has been the lower-risk option at 0.40%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, XLV has performed better with a 9.81% return vs 1.65%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
XLV is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for SHY.
SHY has the higher dividend yield at 3.68%, compared with 1.63% for XLV.
XLV is categorized as Health & Biotech Equities, while SHY is Government Bonds. XLV tracks Health Care Select Sector Index, while SHY tracks ICE US Treasury 1-3 Year Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLV and 0.15% for SHY.
SHY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.43 vs 0.97), 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.
Find the right allocation for XLV and SHY
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer