SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) Performance
XAR total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −9.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −11.4% total return
- 5 years
- +12.6% a year
- 10 years
- +15.3% a year
- Since first price
- +16.6% a year since 2011
XAR trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | XAR total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −9.0% | −9.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −19.5% | −19.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −16.7% | −16.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −9.6% | −9.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −11.4% | −11.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +94.0%+24.7%/yr | +91.0% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +80.7%+12.6%/yr | +76.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +313.4%+15.3%/yr | +284.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +879.6%+16.4%/yr | +733.5% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionSep 29, 2011 | +917.3%+16.6%/yr | +765.6% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: XAR vs SPY
From Sep 29, 2011: XAR grew to $101,734, SPY to $85,036.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
XAR returns by calendar year
11 of 14 full years positive. Best 2013 (+61.2%), worst 2022 (−5.0%). 2026 is year to date.
XAR annual returns table
| Year | XAR | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −9.6% | −26.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +46.2% | −19.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +23.3% | −8.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +23.8% | −12.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −5.0% | −27.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +2.3% | −20.0% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +6.2% | −46.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +39.3% | −8.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −4.6% | −25.9% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +33.0% | −5.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +21.2% | −13.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.0% | −17.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +11.6% | −11.0% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +61.2% | −5.2% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +14.8% | −11.3% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
XAR largest drawdowns
Now 26.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12, 2020 | −46.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jan 14, 2021 | 40 days | 11 months |
| Jun 25, 2021 | −32.4% | Sep 30, 2022 | Dec 19, 2023 | 1.3 years | 2.5 years |
| Aug 14, 2026 | −26.6% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 2 months | 2 months so far |
| Sep 18, 2018 | −25.9% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jun 5, 2019 | 3 months | 9 months |
| Apr 10, 2015 | −22.1% | Feb 11, 2016 | Aug 5, 2016 | 10 months | 1.3 years |
| Jan 23, 2025 | −19.7% | Apr 4, 2025 | May 13, 2025 | 2 months | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
XAR risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +28.0% | +14.7% | +15.6% | +17.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.9% | 23.6% | 23.1% | 20.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.01 | 0.55 | 0.65 | 0.81 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.85 | 0.93 | 1.06 | 1.37 |
| Best month | +14.8% | +15.8% | +25.4% | +25.4% |
| Worst month | −10.2% | −12.0% | −23.4% | −23.4% |
| Best 12 months | +71.0% | +71.0% | +71.0% | +71.0% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.4% | −22.7% | −23.6% | −23.6% |
| Positive months | 64% | 57% | 58% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.15 | 1.03 | 1.11 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.62 | 0.68 | 0.74 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
XAR rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 170 | −23.6% | +19.3% | +71.0% | 81% |
| 3-year (a year) | 146 | −4.2% | +15.6% | +38.3% | 98% |
| 5-year (a year) | 122 | +3.1% | +15.8% | +24.7% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 62 | +11.0% | +14.8% | +19.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2011. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
XAR performance overview
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) returned −11.4% over the past year and +15.3% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2011 it has returned +16.6% a year, turning $10,000 into about $101,734. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −46.4%, from Feb 12, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 10 months to get back to the old high. XAR finished 11 of its 14 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+61.2%) and the worst 2022 (−5.0%). Volatility has been 20.4% a year.
Related: XAR chart, XAR holdings, XAR dividends, XAR valuation. See the XAR overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
XAR performance FAQ
What is the XAR return over the past year?
XAR returned −11.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 11.6%.
What is the average annual return of XAR?
XAR has returned +12.6% a year over 5 years, +15.3% a year over 10 years, +16.6% a year since September 29, 2011 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in XAR be worth?
$10,000 invested in XAR at its first recorded close on September 29, 2011 would be worth about $101,734 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for XAR?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −5.0%. The best was 2013 at +61.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of XAR?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −46.4% between February 12, 2020 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on January 14, 2021, 10 months after the bottom.
How volatile is XAR?
Over the past 3 years XAR had an annualized volatility of 22.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.01 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).