XLE vs XLU — 26-Year Performance Comparison
Energy vs Utilities — backtested 1999–2024
XLE wins$86,578 vs $53,539 on $10,000 over 26 years
XLEEnergy
Final value$86,578
CAGR+8.7%
Max drawdown-42.8%
Best year+64% (2022)
Years won16 of 26
XLUUtilities
Final value$53,539
CAGR+6.7%
Max drawdown-48.7%
Best year+52% (2000)
Years won10 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024XLEXLU
XLE$86,578
XLU$53,539
50/50 mix$79,662
50/50 blend: $79,662 (+8.3%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLE and XLU would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than XLE but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLE vs XLU
| Year | XLE | XLU | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +5.4% | +23.4% | XLU |
| 2023 | +2.2% | -10.2% | XLE |
| 2022 | +64.2% | -0.9% | XLE |
| 2021 | +53.4% | +17.7% | XLE |
| 2020 | -31.8% | -0.6% | XLU |
| 2019 | +11.8% | +26.3% | XLU |
| 2018 | -18.2% | +4.4% | XLU |
| 2017 | -1.0% | +12.1% | XLU |
| 2016 | +27.4% | +16.3% | XLE |
| 2015 | -21.1% | -4.8% | XLU |
| 2014 | -7.8% | +29.0% | XLU |
| 2013 | +25.1% | +13.2% | XLE |
| 2012 | +4.6% | +1.4% | XLE |
| 2011 | +14.9% | +20.0% | XLU |
| 2010 | +20.6% | +5.5% | XLE |
| 2009 | +13.3% | +11.5% | XLE |
| 2008 | -37.6% | -29.0% | XLU |
| 2007 | +35.0% | +20.2% | XLE |
| 2006 | +24.4% | +21.3% | XLE |
| 2005 | +40.2% | +16.5% | XLE |
| 2004 | +31.4% | +23.9% | XLE |
| 2003 | +26.1% | +21.9% | XLE |
| 2002 | -10.1% | -29.0% | XLE |
| 2001 | -8.1% | -27.7% | XLE |
| 2000 | +5.1% | +51.5% | XLU |
| 1999 | +28.4% | -14.0% | XLE |
More comparisons
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