LQD vs XLE — 23-Year Performance Comparison
Investment-Grade Corp Bonds vs Energy — backtested 2002–2024
XLE wins$69,811 vs $26,647 on $10,000 over 23 years
LQDInvestment-Grade Corp Bonds
Final value$26,647
CAGR+4.4%
Max drawdown-19.4%
Best year+17% (2019)
Years won10 of 23
XLEEnergy
Final value$69,811
CAGR+8.8%
Max drawdown-42.8%
Best year+64% (2022)
Years won13 of 23
Growth of $10,000
2002–2024LQDXLE
LQD$26,647
XLE$69,811
50/50 mix$53,299
50/50 blend: $53,299 (+7.5%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between LQD and XLE would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than XLE but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: LQD vs XLE
| Year | LQD | XLE | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +0.9% | +5.4% | XLE |
| 2023 | +9.4% | +2.2% | LQD |
| 2022 | -17.9% | +64.2% | XLE |
| 2021 | -1.8% | +53.4% | XLE |
| 2020 | +11.0% | -31.8% | LQD |
| 2019 | +17.4% | +11.8% | LQD |
| 2018 | -3.8% | -18.2% | LQD |
| 2017 | +7.1% | -1.0% | LQD |
| 2016 | +6.2% | +27.4% | XLE |
| 2015 | -1.3% | -21.1% | LQD |
| 2014 | +8.2% | -7.8% | LQD |
| 2013 | -2.0% | +25.1% | XLE |
| 2012 | +10.6% | +4.6% | LQD |
| 2011 | +9.7% | +14.9% | XLE |
| 2010 | +9.3% | +20.6% | XLE |
| 2009 | +8.4% | +13.3% | XLE |
| 2008 | +2.4% | -37.6% | LQD |
| 2007 | +3.7% | +35.0% | XLE |
| 2006 | +4.2% | +24.4% | XLE |
| 2005 | +1.2% | +40.2% | XLE |
| 2004 | +5.7% | +31.4% | XLE |
| 2003 | +7.3% | +26.1% | XLE |
| 2002 | +9.9% | -10.1% | LQD |
More comparisons
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