XLP vs LQD — 23-Year Performance Comparison
Consumer Staples vs Investment-Grade Corp Bonds — backtested 2002–2024
XLP wins$61,798 vs $26,647 on $10,000 over 23 years
XLPConsumer Staples
Final value$61,798
CAGR+8.2%
Max drawdown-15.4%
Best year+28% (2019)
Years won16 of 23
LQDInvestment-Grade Corp Bonds
Final value$26,647
CAGR+4.4%
Max drawdown-19.4%
Best year+17% (2019)
Years won7 of 23
Growth of $10,000
2002–2024XLPLQD
XLP$61,798
LQD$26,647
50/50 mix$41,982
50/50 blend: $41,982 (+6.4%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLP and LQD would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than XLP but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLP vs LQD
| Year | XLP | LQD | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +14.7% | +0.9% | XLP |
| 2023 | -1.3% | +9.4% | LQD |
| 2022 | -3.2% | -17.9% | XLP |
| 2021 | +18.6% | -1.8% | XLP |
| 2020 | +10.7% | +11.0% | LQD |
| 2019 | +27.6% | +17.4% | XLP |
| 2018 | -8.5% | -3.8% | LQD |
| 2017 | +13.7% | +7.1% | XLP |
| 2016 | -2.4% | +6.2% | LQD |
| 2015 | +7.0% | -1.3% | XLP |
| 2014 | +16.0% | +8.2% | XLP |
| 2013 | +26.1% | -2.0% | XLP |
| 2012 | +10.8% | +10.6% | XLP |
| 2011 | +14.0% | +9.7% | XLP |
| 2010 | +14.1% | +9.3% | XLP |
| 2009 | +14.9% | +8.4% | XLP |
| 2008 | -15.4% | +2.4% | LQD |
| 2007 | +14.3% | +3.7% | XLP |
| 2006 | +14.3% | +4.2% | XLP |
| 2005 | +3.1% | +1.2% | XLP |
| 2004 | +5.6% | +5.7% | LQD |
| 2003 | +12.6% | +7.3% | XLP |
| 2002 | -5.6% | +9.9% | LQD |
More comparisons
Build your portfolio
Mix XLP + LQD with custom allocations
Try a 70/30 or 40/60 split — or add up to 3 more ETFs. See exactly how your custom portfolio would have performed.
Open Portfolio Builder →Past performance does not guarantee future results.