XLV vs XLU — 26-Year Performance Comparison
Health Care vs Utilities — backtested 1999–2024
XLV wins$67,678 vs $53,539 on $10,000 over 26 years
XLVHealth Care
Final value$67,678
CAGR+7.6%
Max drawdown-27.2%
Best year+41% (2013)
Years won13 of 26
XLUUtilities
Final value$53,539
CAGR+6.7%
Max drawdown-48.7%
Best year+52% (2000)
Years won13 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024XLVXLU
XLV$67,678
XLU$53,539
50/50 mix$63,239
50/50 blend: $63,239 (+7.4%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLV and XLU would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than XLV but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLV vs XLU
| Year | XLV | XLU | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +2.6% | +23.4% | XLU |
| 2023 | +2.1% | -10.2% | XLV |
| 2022 | -2.1% | -0.9% | XLU |
| 2021 | +26.1% | +17.7% | XLV |
| 2020 | +13.4% | -0.6% | XLV |
| 2019 | +20.8% | +26.3% | XLU |
| 2018 | +6.5% | +4.4% | XLV |
| 2017 | +22.1% | +12.1% | XLV |
| 2016 | -2.7% | +16.3% | XLU |
| 2015 | +6.9% | -4.8% | XLV |
| 2014 | +25.3% | +29.0% | XLU |
| 2013 | +41.4% | +13.2% | XLV |
| 2012 | +17.4% | +1.4% | XLV |
| 2011 | +10.2% | +20.0% | XLU |
| 2010 | +3.2% | +5.5% | XLU |
| 2009 | +19.0% | +11.5% | XLV |
| 2008 | -22.8% | -29.0% | XLV |
| 2007 | +7.3% | +20.2% | XLU |
| 2006 | +6.6% | +21.3% | XLU |
| 2005 | +7.6% | +16.5% | XLU |
| 2004 | +1.6% | +23.9% | XLU |
| 2003 | +17.0% | +21.9% | XLU |
| 2002 | -17.7% | -29.0% | XLV |
| 2001 | -11.6% | -27.7% | XLV |
| 2000 | +28.4% | +51.5% | XLU |
| 1999 | -4.9% | -14.0% | XLV |
More comparisons
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