XLE vs VDE: which was the better investment?
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund against Vanguard Energy ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Sep 29, 2004 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did XLE beat VDE?
Yes — measured from Sep 29, 2004 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, XLE came out ahead: $60,009 versus $53,778 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 8.6% annual return against 8.0%.
What would $10,000 in XLE be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) on Sep 29, 2004 would be worth about $60,009 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 500.1% (8.6% per year). The same $10,000 in VDE would be worth $53,778.
Which was riskier — XLE or VDE?
XLE swung with an annualized volatility of 29.7% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -71.3%; VDE ran at 29.7% volatility with a -74.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.22 for XLE vs 0.20 for VDE.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Sep 29, 2004 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with XLE vs VDE. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.