XLU vs QQQ — 25-Year Performance Comparison
Utilities vs Nasdaq 100 — backtested 2000–2024
QQQ wins$66,328 vs $62,254 on $10,000 over 25 years
XLUUtilities
Final value$62,254
CAGR+7.6%
Max drawdown-48.7%
Best year+52% (2000)
Years won13 of 25
QQQNasdaq 100
Final value$66,328
CAGR+7.9%
Max drawdown-73.4%
Best year+55% (2023)
Years won12 of 25
Growth of $10,000
2000–2024XLUQQQ
XLU$62,254
QQQ$66,328
50/50 mix$80,249
50/50 blend: $80,249 (+8.7%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLU and QQQ would have outperformed both individually — diversification smoothed the ride. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLU vs QQQ
| Year | XLU | QQQ | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +23.4% | +25.6% | QQQ |
| 2023 | -10.2% | +54.9% | QQQ |
| 2022 | -0.9% | -32.6% | XLU |
| 2021 | +17.7% | +27.4% | QQQ |
| 2020 | -0.6% | +48.6% | QQQ |
| 2019 | +26.3% | +39.0% | QQQ |
| 2018 | +4.4% | -0.1% | XLU |
| 2017 | +12.1% | +32.7% | QQQ |
| 2016 | +16.3% | +7.1% | XLU |
| 2015 | -4.8% | +9.4% | QQQ |
| 2014 | +29.0% | +19.2% | XLU |
| 2013 | +13.2% | +36.6% | QQQ |
| 2012 | +1.4% | +18.1% | QQQ |
| 2011 | +20.0% | +3.0% | XLU |
| 2010 | +5.5% | +20.0% | QQQ |
| 2009 | +11.5% | +54.7% | QQQ |
| 2008 | -29.0% | -41.7% | XLU |
| 2007 | +20.2% | +19.7% | XLU |
| 2006 | +21.3% | +7.0% | XLU |
| 2005 | +16.5% | +2.2% | XLU |
| 2004 | +23.9% | +10.4% | XLU |
| 2003 | +21.9% | +50.3% | QQQ |
| 2002 | -29.0% | -37.6% | XLU |
| 2001 | -27.7% | -32.6% | XLU |
| 2000 | +51.5% | -36.8% | XLU |
More comparisons
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