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XLF vs SPY

Total return with dividends reinvested · 5Y

Open chart
XLFState Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETFSPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
-18%0%+18%+36%+54%+72%10-25’2108-23’2206-22’2304-19’2402-19’2512-16XLF +50.5%SPY +81.5%lopjlb.com
XLF
SPY

Return and risk 5Y

Ticker$10K becameTotalPer yearVolatilityWorst dropOff high nowBest yearWorst yearYears upCorr. with XLF
XLF$15,052+50.52%+8.54%18.3%-25.81%-3.97%+30.00% 2024-11.67% 202275%—
SPY$18,151+81.51%+12.69%17.2%-24.49%-0.77%+26.73% 2023-18.64% 202275%0.79
XLF
$10K became
$15,052
Total
+50.52%
Per year
+8.54%
Volatility
18.3%
Worst drop
-25.81%
Off high now
-3.97%
Best year
+30.00% 2024
Worst year
-11.67% 2022
SPY
$10K became
$18,151
Total
+81.51%
Per year
+12.69%
Volatility
17.2%
Worst drop
-24.49%
Off high now
-0.77%
Best year
+26.73% 2023
Worst year
-18.64% 2022

Per year is the compound annual growth rate and needs a year of history. Volatility is the yearly spread of daily returns. Best and worst years count full calendar years only.

Drawdown from peak 5Y

0%-15%-30%
2021-102026-10

Correlation of daily returns

XLFSPYXLF1.000.79SPY0.791.00

1 moves together, 0 unrelated, negative moves opposite. Lower correlation means more diversification.

Trailing returns up to 5 years

Ticker1Y2Y3Y5Y
XLF————
SPY————

Calendar-year returns best each year in bold

YearXLFSPY
No full years in this range yet.

More comparisons

About this comparison

State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) total return over 5Y: XLF +50.52%, SPY +81.51%. As of Oct 21, 2026. Research only.

Desk note, written 2026-10-20. Its figures are as of that date; the tables above are live.

As of 2026-10-20, the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) closed at $55.72, while the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) settled at $769.00. Both instruments currently reflect a Balanced quality archetype, with SPY holding a slightly higher quality score of 54.20 compared to XLF’s 46.20. The broader market pulse indicates a flat breadth position due to an EMA bearish crossover, suggesting cautious momentum across the sector. From a total-return perspective, the five-year window highlights a distinct performance gap. SPY delivered a +81.3% return, outpacing XLF’s +51.6% over the same period. This divergence underscores the broader index’s resilience relative to the financial sector’s specific volatility. Investors can review the full overlay details, including directional signals and regime classifications, on the respective stock pages for a comprehensive view of current market conditions.

What does the XLF vs SPY overlay show?

LOPJLB overlays XLF vs SPY as total return (dividends and splits) from the first adjusted close in the selected 5Y window. Each path starts at 0% so you can read relative holding performance, not raw tape price.

Is this holding return or tape close?

Holding return. The series uses split- and dividend-adjusted close (Yahoo-style backward adjustment) when dividend coverage is sufficient, otherwise it falls back to tape close. Candles and technical overlays on /chart stay tape.

Which windows are public?

Public visitors can share 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y, and 5Y. MAX is Research+. Direction and regime in the table follow the desk ladder: SPY25 on Free, full book on Essential+.

How do I read the drawdown, period, and annual tables?

Drawdowns are current and worst peak-to-trough on the visible range. Periods are calendar lookbacks (1Y / 2Y / 3Y / 5Y, plus 10Y on MAX) from the last bar. Annual is calendar-year holding return, with the latest year labeled YTD.

How has XLF vs SPY performed on a normalized basis?

XLF vs SPY holding-return overlay: 5Y XLF +50.52% · SPY +81.51%; worst drawdown XLF -25.81% · SPY -24.49%; YTD XLF +3.27% · SPY +14.05%. Numbers update from the live compare-series book.

Is ticker compare investment advice?

No. The overlay is research context only — not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

Related: XLF, SPY, methodology, chart