XLE vs XLP — 26-Year Performance Comparison
Energy vs Consumer Staples — backtested 1999–2024
XLE wins$86,578 vs $66,700 on $10,000 over 26 years
XLEEnergy
Final value$86,578
CAGR+8.7%
Max drawdown-42.8%
Best year+64% (2022)
Years won12 of 26
XLPConsumer Staples
Final value$66,700
CAGR+7.6%
Max drawdown-15.4%
Best year+28% (2019)
Years won14 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024XLEXLP
XLE$86,578
XLP$66,700
50/50 mix$89,152
50/50 blend: $89,152 (+8.8%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLE and XLP would have outperformed both individually — diversification smoothed the ride. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLE vs XLP
| Year | XLE | XLP | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +5.4% | +14.7% | XLP |
| 2023 | +2.2% | -1.3% | XLE |
| 2022 | +64.2% | -3.2% | XLE |
| 2021 | +53.4% | +18.6% | XLE |
| 2020 | -31.8% | +10.7% | XLP |
| 2019 | +11.8% | +27.6% | XLP |
| 2018 | -18.2% | -8.5% | XLP |
| 2017 | -1.0% | +13.7% | XLP |
| 2016 | +27.4% | -2.4% | XLE |
| 2015 | -21.1% | +7.0% | XLP |
| 2014 | -7.8% | +16.0% | XLP |
| 2013 | +25.1% | +26.1% | XLP |
| 2012 | +4.6% | +10.8% | XLP |
| 2011 | +14.9% | +14.0% | XLE |
| 2010 | +20.6% | +14.1% | XLE |
| 2009 | +13.3% | +14.9% | XLP |
| 2008 | -37.6% | -15.4% | XLP |
| 2007 | +35.0% | +14.3% | XLE |
| 2006 | +24.4% | +14.3% | XLE |
| 2005 | +40.2% | +3.1% | XLE |
| 2004 | +31.4% | +5.6% | XLE |
| 2003 | +26.1% | +12.6% | XLE |
| 2002 | -10.1% | -5.6% | XLP |
| 2001 | -8.1% | +1.2% | XLP |
| 2000 | +5.1% | +17.2% | XLP |
| 1999 | +28.4% | -9.0% | XLE |
More comparisons
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