XLV vs XLB — 26-Year Performance Comparison
Health Care vs Materials — backtested 1999–2024
XLV wins$67,678 vs $59,591 on $10,000 over 26 years
XLVHealth Care
Final value$67,678
CAGR+7.6%
Max drawdown-27.2%
Best year+41% (2013)
Years won10 of 26
XLBMaterials
Final value$59,591
CAGR+7.1%
Max drawdown-44.9%
Best year+48% (2009)
Years won16 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024XLVXLB
XLV$67,678
XLB$59,591
50/50 mix$69,220
50/50 blend: $69,220 (+7.7%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLV and XLB would have outperformed both individually — diversification smoothed the ride. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLV vs XLB
| Year | XLV | XLB | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +2.6% | +6.5% | XLB |
| 2023 | +2.1% | +11.9% | XLB |
| 2022 | -2.1% | -13.8% | XLV |
| 2021 | +26.1% | +27.3% | XLB |
| 2020 | +13.4% | +20.6% | XLB |
| 2019 | +20.8% | +24.5% | XLB |
| 2018 | +6.5% | -14.7% | XLV |
| 2017 | +22.1% | +22.1% | XLB |
| 2016 | -2.7% | +17.4% | XLB |
| 2015 | +6.9% | -8.0% | XLV |
| 2014 | +25.3% | +6.9% | XLV |
| 2013 | +41.4% | +25.6% | XLV |
| 2012 | +17.4% | +15.4% | XLV |
| 2011 | +10.2% | -9.8% | XLV |
| 2010 | +3.2% | +20.5% | XLB |
| 2009 | +19.0% | +47.6% | XLB |
| 2008 | -22.8% | -44.9% | XLV |
| 2007 | +7.3% | +22.9% | XLB |
| 2006 | +6.6% | +22.4% | XLB |
| 2005 | +7.6% | +11.0% | XLB |
| 2004 | +1.6% | +13.0% | XLB |
| 2003 | +17.0% | +22.7% | XLB |
| 2002 | -17.7% | -7.4% | XLB |
| 2001 | -11.6% | -9.1% | XLB |
| 2000 | +28.4% | -15.2% | XLV |
| 1999 | -4.9% | +19.2% | XLB |
More comparisons
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