XLF vs VNQ — 20-Year Performance Comparison
Financials vs Real Estate (REIT) — backtested 2005–2024
VNQ wins$37,027 vs $29,429 on $10,000 over 20 years
XLFFinancials
Final value$29,429
CAGR+5.5%
Max drawdown-63.6%
Best year+36% (2013)
Years won9 of 20
VNQReal Estate (REIT)
Final value$37,027
CAGR+6.8%
Max drawdown-47.3%
Best year+41% (2021)
Years won11 of 20
Growth of $10,000
2005–2024XLFVNQ
XLF$29,429
VNQ$37,027
50/50 mix$35,050
50/50 blend: $35,050 (+6.5%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLF and VNQ would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than VNQ but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLF vs VNQ
| Year | XLF | VNQ | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +30.9% | +4.8% | XLF |
| 2023 | +12.2% | +11.8% | XLF |
| 2022 | -10.5% | -26.2% | XLF |
| 2021 | +35.0% | +40.5% | VNQ |
| 2020 | -1.7% | -4.7% | XLF |
| 2019 | +32.1% | +28.9% | XLF |
| 2018 | -14.6% | -6.0% | VNQ |
| 2017 | +22.2% | +4.9% | XLF |
| 2016 | +22.8% | +8.6% | XLF |
| 2015 | -1.5% | +2.4% | VNQ |
| 2014 | +15.2% | +30.4% | VNQ |
| 2013 | +35.6% | +2.3% | XLF |
| 2012 | +29.0% | +17.6% | XLF |
| 2011 | -17.1% | +8.6% | VNQ |
| 2010 | +12.1% | +28.4% | VNQ |
| 2009 | +17.5% | +30.1% | VNQ |
| 2008 | -55.3% | -37.0% | VNQ |
| 2007 | -18.6% | -16.3% | VNQ |
| 2006 | +19.1% | +35.2% | VNQ |
| 2005 | +6.1% | +11.6% | VNQ |
More comparisons
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