XLB vs XLE — 26-Year Performance Comparison
Materials vs Energy — backtested 1999–2024
XLE wins$86,578 vs $59,591 on $10,000 over 26 years
XLBMaterials
Final value$59,591
CAGR+7.1%
Max drawdown-44.9%
Best year+48% (2009)
Years won12 of 26
XLEEnergy
Final value$86,578
CAGR+8.7%
Max drawdown-42.8%
Best year+64% (2022)
Years won14 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024XLBXLE
XLB$59,591
XLE$86,578
50/50 mix$83,183
50/50 blend: $83,183 (+8.5%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLB and XLE would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than XLE but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLB vs XLE
| Year | XLB | XLE | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +6.5% | +5.4% | XLB |
| 2023 | +11.9% | +2.2% | XLB |
| 2022 | -13.8% | +64.2% | XLE |
| 2021 | +27.3% | +53.4% | XLE |
| 2020 | +20.6% | -31.8% | XLB |
| 2019 | +24.5% | +11.8% | XLB |
| 2018 | -14.7% | -18.2% | XLB |
| 2017 | +22.1% | -1.0% | XLB |
| 2016 | +17.4% | +27.4% | XLE |
| 2015 | -8.0% | -21.1% | XLB |
| 2014 | +6.9% | -7.8% | XLB |
| 2013 | +25.6% | +25.1% | XLB |
| 2012 | +15.4% | +4.6% | XLB |
| 2011 | -9.8% | +14.9% | XLE |
| 2010 | +20.5% | +20.6% | XLE |
| 2009 | +47.6% | +13.3% | XLB |
| 2008 | -44.9% | -37.6% | XLE |
| 2007 | +22.9% | +35.0% | XLE |
| 2006 | +22.4% | +24.4% | XLE |
| 2005 | +11.0% | +40.2% | XLE |
| 2004 | +13.0% | +31.4% | XLE |
| 2003 | +22.7% | +26.1% | XLE |
| 2002 | -7.4% | -10.1% | XLB |
| 2001 | -9.1% | -8.1% | XLE |
| 2000 | -15.2% | +5.1% | XLE |
| 1999 | +19.2% | +28.4% | XLE |
More comparisons
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