Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) Performance
XLE total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +58.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +60.3% total return
- 5 years
- +23.3% a year
- 10 years
- +11.4% a year
- Since first price
- +9.4% a year since 1998
XLE trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | XLE total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +11.2% | +11.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +17.5% | +16.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +23.3% | +21.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +58.1% | +55.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +60.3% | +55.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +71.7%+19.7%/yr | +56.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +185.3%+23.3%/yr | +139.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +193.7%+11.4%/yr | +97.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +236.1%+8.4%/yr | +102.3% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +353.8%+7.9%/yr | +153.0% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionDec 22, 1998 | +1,112.9%+9.4%/yr | +496.0% | — | — | — |
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: XLE vs SPY
From Dec 22, 1998: XLE grew to $121,287, SPY to $101,831.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
XLE returns by calendar year
18 of 27 full years positive. Best 2022 (+64.3%), worst 2008 (−39.0%). 2026 is year to date.
XLE annual returns table
| Year | XLE | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +58.1% | −15.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +7.9% | −18.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +5.6% | −14.3% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −0.6% | −17.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +64.3% | −26.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +53.3% | −17.7% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −32.7% | −60.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +10.7% | −17.9% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −18.2% | −30.2% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | −0.9% | −17.6% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +28.0% | −14.5% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −21.5% | −28.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −8.7% | −27.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +26.2% | −7.1% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +5.2% | −18.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +2.8% | −29.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +21.8% | −20.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +21.8% | −26.5% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −39.0% | −55.5% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +36.9% | −12.4% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +18.1% | −16.0% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +40.2% | −16.5% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +33.9% | −6.7% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +25.8% | −10.5% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −14.7% | −32.4% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | −18.1% | −30.1% | −11.8% | −33.3% | — |
| 2000 | +24.4% | −14.7% | −9.7% | −36.1% | — |
| 1999 | +18.0% | −14.8% | +20.4% | — | — |
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.
XLE largest drawdowns
At an all-time high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 2014 | −71.5% | Mar 18, 2020 | Mar 7, 2022 | 5.7 years | 7.7 years |
| May 20, 2008 | −57.4% | Mar 2, 2009 | May 20, 2013 | 9 months | 5.0 years |
| May 18, 2001 | −41.5% | Jul 23, 2002 | Jul 16, 2004 | 1.2 years | 3.2 years |
| Jun 8, 2022 | −26.0% | Jul 14, 2022 | Nov 1, 2022 | 36 days | 5 months |
| Nov 22, 2024 | −20.1% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | 5 months | 1.1 years |
| Nov 15, 2022 | −17.3% | Mar 17, 2023 | Sep 8, 2023 | 4 months | 10 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
XLE risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +14.4% | +23.0% | +10.0% | +8.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.5% | 26.0% | 30.1% | 25.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.54 | 0.78 | 0.39 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 0.91 | 1.42 | 0.62 | — |
| Best month | +14.2% | +25.0% | +30.8% | +30.8% |
| Worst month | −13.9% | −17.1% | −34.4% | −34.4% |
| Best 12 months | +53.0% | +74.6% | +109.5% | +109.5% |
| Worst 12 months | −11.1% | −11.1% | −52.9% | −52.9% |
| Positive months | 53% | 60% | 56% | 56% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | -0.00 | 0.49 | 1.05 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | -0.00 | 0.29 | 0.53 | — |
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.
XLE rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 323 | −52.9% | +11.4% | +109.5% | 68% |
| 3-year (a year) | 299 | −22.0% | +6.1% | +50.8% | 65% |
| 5-year (a year) | 275 | −14.7% | +7.9% | +31.7% | 82% |
| 10-year (a year) | 215 | −4.1% | +5.5% | +15.3% | 92% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 1998. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
XLE performance overview
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) returned +60.3% over the past year and +11.4% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 1998 it has returned +9.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $121,287. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −71.5%, from Jun 23, 2014 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 2.0 years to get back to the old high. XLE finished 18 of its 27 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2022 (+64.3%) and the worst 2008 (−39.0%). Volatility has been 25.0% a year.
Related: XLE chart, XLE holdings, XLE dividends, XLE valuation. See the XLE overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
XLE performance FAQ
What is the XLE return over the past year?
XLE returned +60.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 55.9%.
What is the average annual return of XLE?
XLE has returned +23.3% a year over 5 years, +11.4% a year over 10 years, +9.4% a year since December 22, 1998 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in XLE be worth?
$10,000 invested in XLE at its first recorded close on December 22, 1998 would be worth about $121,287 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for XLE?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −39.0%. The best was 2022 at +64.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of XLE?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −71.5% between June 23, 2014 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on March 7, 2022, 2.0 years after the bottom.
How volatile is XLE?
Over the past 3 years XLE had an annualized volatility of 20.5% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.54 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).