XLV vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
XLV and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XLV is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Health Care Select Sector. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both XLV and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: XLV or SPY.
Key characteristics
| XLV | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 3.64% | 7.90% |
| 1Y Return | 8.11% | 28.03% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 6.31% | 8.75% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 11.24% | 13.52% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 11.15% | 12.62% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.69 | 2.33 |
| Daily Std Dev | 10.53% | 11.63% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.18% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -4.67% | -2.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLV and SPY is 0.74, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
XLV vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, XLV achieves a 3.64% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 7.90% return. Over the past 10 years, XLV has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 11.15%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 12.62% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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XLV vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLV has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
XLV vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
Dividends
XLV vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
XLV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.56%, more than SPY's 1.31% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLV Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.56% | 1.59% | 1.47% | 1.33% | 1.49% | 2.16% | 1.56% | 1.46% | 1.59% | 1.43% | 1.34% | 1.51% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.31% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
XLV vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLV drawdown since its inception was -39.18%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLV and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
XLV vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) is 2.83%, while SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 4.08%. This indicates that XLV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.