SPY vs XLE — 26-Year Performance Comparison
S&P 500 vs Energy — backtested 1999–2024
XLE wins$86,578 vs $76,190 on $10,000 over 26 years
SPYS&P 500
Final value$76,190
CAGR+8.1%
Max drawdown-37.6%
Best year+32% (2013)
Years won13 of 26
XLEEnergy
Final value$86,578
CAGR+8.7%
Max drawdown-42.8%
Best year+64% (2022)
Years won13 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024SPYXLE
SPY$76,190
XLE$86,578
50/50 mix$96,277
50/50 blend: $96,277 (+9.1%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between SPY and XLE would have outperformed both individually — diversification smoothed the ride. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: SPY vs XLE
| Year | SPY | XLE | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +23.3% | +5.4% | SPY |
| 2023 | +26.3% | +2.2% | SPY |
| 2022 | -18.2% | +64.2% | XLE |
| 2021 | +28.7% | +53.4% | XLE |
| 2020 | +18.4% | -31.8% | SPY |
| 2019 | +31.5% | +11.8% | SPY |
| 2018 | -4.4% | -18.2% | SPY |
| 2017 | +21.8% | -1.0% | SPY |
| 2016 | +12.0% | +27.4% | XLE |
| 2015 | +1.4% | -21.1% | SPY |
| 2014 | +13.7% | -7.8% | SPY |
| 2013 | +32.4% | +25.1% | SPY |
| 2012 | +16.0% | +4.6% | SPY |
| 2011 | +2.1% | +14.9% | XLE |
| 2010 | +15.1% | +20.6% | XLE |
| 2009 | +26.5% | +13.3% | SPY |
| 2008 | -37.0% | -37.6% | SPY |
| 2007 | +5.5% | +35.0% | XLE |
| 2006 | +15.8% | +24.4% | XLE |
| 2005 | +4.9% | +40.2% | XLE |
| 2004 | +10.9% | +31.4% | XLE |
| 2003 | +28.7% | +26.1% | SPY |
| 2002 | -22.1% | -10.1% | XLE |
| 2001 | -11.9% | -8.1% | XLE |
| 2000 | -9.1% | +5.1% | XLE |
| 1999 | +21.0% | +28.4% | XLE |
More comparisons
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