XLF vs VFH: which was the better investment?
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund against Vanguard Financials ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 30, 2004 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did XLF beat VFH?
No — measured from Jan 30, 2004 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VFH came out ahead: $45,826 versus $38,633 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 7.0% annual return against 6.2%.
What would $10,000 in XLF be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) on Jan 30, 2004 would be worth about $38,633 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 286.3% (6.2% per year). The same $10,000 in VFH would be worth $45,826.
Which was riskier — XLF or VFH?
XLF swung with an annualized volatility of 28.4% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -82.7%; VFH ran at 26.5% volatility with a -78.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.15 for XLF vs 0.19 for VFH.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 30, 2004 through Aug 28, 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 XLF vs VFH. 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.