XLF vs XLU — 26-Year Performance Comparison
Financials vs Utilities — backtested 1999–2024
XLU wins$53,539 vs $46,729 on $10,000 over 26 years
XLFFinancials
Final value$46,729
CAGR+6.1%
Max drawdown-63.6%
Best year+36% (2013)
Years won15 of 26
XLUUtilities
Final value$53,539
CAGR+6.7%
Max drawdown-48.7%
Best year+52% (2000)
Years won11 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024XLFXLU
XLF$46,729
XLU$53,539
50/50 mix$56,515
50/50 blend: $56,515 (+6.9%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLF and XLU would have outperformed both individually — diversification smoothed the ride. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLF vs XLU
| Year | XLF | XLU | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +30.9% | +23.4% | XLF |
| 2023 | +12.2% | -10.2% | XLF |
| 2022 | -10.5% | -0.9% | XLU |
| 2021 | +35.0% | +17.7% | XLF |
| 2020 | -1.7% | -0.6% | XLU |
| 2019 | +32.1% | +26.3% | XLF |
| 2018 | -14.6% | +4.4% | XLU |
| 2017 | +22.2% | +12.1% | XLF |
| 2016 | +22.8% | +16.3% | XLF |
| 2015 | -1.5% | -4.8% | XLF |
| 2014 | +15.2% | +29.0% | XLU |
| 2013 | +35.6% | +13.2% | XLF |
| 2012 | +29.0% | +1.4% | XLF |
| 2011 | -17.1% | +20.0% | XLU |
| 2010 | +12.1% | +5.5% | XLF |
| 2009 | +17.5% | +11.5% | XLF |
| 2008 | -55.3% | -29.0% | XLU |
| 2007 | -18.6% | +20.2% | XLU |
| 2006 | +19.1% | +21.3% | XLU |
| 2005 | +6.1% | +16.5% | XLU |
| 2004 | +10.7% | +23.9% | XLU |
| 2003 | +29.1% | +21.9% | XLF |
| 2002 | -19.0% | -29.0% | XLF |
| 2001 | -6.3% | -27.7% | XLF |
| 2000 | +26.2% | +51.5% | XLU |
| 1999 | +16.0% | -14.0% | XLF |
More comparisons
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