XOP vs XLE: which was the better investment?
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF against Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 22, 2006 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did XOP beat XLE?
No — measured from Jun 22, 2006 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, XLE came out ahead: $39,328 versus $15,881 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 7.1% annual return against 2.3%.
What would $10,000 in XOP be worth today?
$10,000 invested in SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) on Jun 22, 2006 would be worth about $15,881 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 58.8% (2.3% per year). The same $10,000 in XLE would be worth $39,328.
Which was riskier — XOP or XLE?
XOP swung with an annualized volatility of 40.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -90.3%; XLE ran at 30.0% volatility with a -71.3% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.01 for XOP vs 0.17 for XLE.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 22, 2006 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 XOP vs XLE. 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.